Verge Safety Barriers and Opal (formerly known as Orora) have been working together for many years on creating ultimately safe working environments across many of their sites.

Opal’s no 1 priority being safety, coupled with our passion for safety has formed an excellent partnership for getting the detail right.

Verge was recently invited to design and construct a 7m high topple barrier to create a truck driver safe zone. This barrier was to be constructed in the warehouse where bulk paper rolls are stored and distributed. The bulk rolls of paper weigh up to 3500 kgs and are stacked 3 and 4 levels high, alongside an area where warehouse personnel and drivers congregate.

In collaboration between our designer and Opal’s engineering team, a very subnational structure was decided upon.

The structure stands 7m tall x 14.5 m long and is situated between the stacks of paper rolls and the driver safety zone eliminating any risk of crush injury if a roll happened to fall.

Situation

Heavy rolls of paper from the mill are stacked 3 and 4 levels high exposing a potential risk of toppling into an area designated to truck drivers and personnel.  

Options

1. Reduce the height of the stacks in that area. Negative impact – loss of valuable warehouse capacity.
2. Create a topple barrier between the stacks of rolls and the driver safety zone utilizing the complete available warehouse space.

Solution

Together the topple barrier was designed and constructed with minimal disruption. The erection of the Verge Hy-wall structure took only 1.5 days to complete.

The result is everyone is now safe, and the warehouse is fully functioning with no limits to its capacity.

Great outcome.