Posted By ddlhood
Hi - remember that if you do stack the wheel chairs at height, then you are going to have the same problems when getting them down again. The heirarchy of control is to Avoid, assess and reduce. It might be easier to store them somewhere else at ground level

Posted By Frank Hallett
Hi Eric

On the premise that you have explored the alternatives for storage and have no apparent option but to store as you identify, I suggest that you consider the following:-

You aren't precise about how much of the handrail you propose removing; and

You aren't precise about when in the activity you would remove it.

Given that you have determined that there are no reasonably practicable alternatives, in my opinion:-

You should only consider removing part of the handrail if the remainder will retain the necessary level of structural integrity without the removed part; and

If the design of the handrail will permit such a removal without reducing the structural integrity of the remainder, then you will need to have very strong management control measures in place to ensure that the handrail is only removed to load the platform at ground level and to unload the platform once docked securely at the storage point of the racking; and

The storage point in the racking should present no opportunity for falling in itself; and

If there is a potential for falling whilst unloading/loading at the racking storage point, you will need to provide fall prevention [preferable] or fall-arrest [less preferable] measures for the operatives; and

If you have to provide fall-arrest measures, you must also provide suitable emrgency retrieval measures that do not rely upon external agencies.

Frank Hallett

Posted By David Tilsley-Curtis
Eric

The solution to your problem may be relatively simple dependant on the whole detail of the working area. We have modified a number of scissor lifts to enable gates in the handrails to be opened when elevated. This would enable you to position the lift at the appropriate height and wheel them off.

There are a couple of very important issues to build in. The system must not be able to be opened when not adjacent to the racking, the lift must not be able to be moved/driven when the gates are open. There are a number of others issues as well, but most if not all of these can be overcome using electrical interlock, key interlocks, training and a specific safe system of work being adhered to.

Hope this is of help, we could offer you more info directly should you require it.

David