INNOVATION OF THE YEAR

摘要

The SkySiren® addresses the very real risk, when working with powered-access equipment at height, of entrapment-when an operator can be 'pinned' between an overhead obstruction and the vehicle control and thus suffer crush injuries and/or asphyxiation. It was developed by Nationwide and BlueSky Access (also now part of the Lavendon Croup) and Skanska and works by reacting to sustained pressure on a rubber strip placed between the operator and the vehicle control panel. This pressure, which may be indicative of a trapped operator, is converted into a signal to stop the vehicle immediately, sound an alarm and initiate a flashing light-thus alerting others to a trapped colleague.