25th May 2010
Following a report that a person was injured on site when a CUPLOK® batten bearer hook failed on a CUPLOK 4-leg staircase tower, the company has carried out a 100% inspection of batten bearers in its hire stock and has undertaken sample testing. We have not purchased the batten bearer items in question for several years, but there is now evidence that a small number of bearers have been manufactured non compliant to our specification and then received into stock.
It would appear that users on site may be “reworking” hooks if they become bent out of line. As the non compliant bearers had cold formed hooks which are more susceptible to fracture under this type of stress, the reworking can cause some hooks to fracture in the radius of the bend. As the fault is in the manufacturing process rather than design it is difficult to visually identify, in particular when the bearers are in position within a staircase tower.
You must immediately identify any batten bearers in use and replace them with mesh landing platforms 279417. Quarantine and not use any staircase transom units (code 279394) and staircase batten bearers (code 279393). An alternative interim “failsafe” measure may be employed until the bearers can be released from a tower.
We have now decided that as the mesh landing platform design provides productivity benefits and avoids any concerns with bearers, we will no longer offer the batten bearer method. In future only mesh landing platforms for 4-leg staircase towers will be offered for hire or purchase.
Should you have any bearers that require inspection or replacement, please contact your local branch for advice.
Full Details:
