Dropped object protection (DOP) exists to protect pedestrians and workers during construction and demolition. However, the scope of implementation differs greatly from project to project or industry to industry. While off-the-shelf solutions exist, here, as in other areas of safety, there’s opportunity to advance safety and cost effectiveness by challenging old assumptions and designs. Probing deeper for client needs and expectations often yields collaborative and innovative solutions to the benefit of all.
A recently implemented DOP canopy on a Canadian offshore gravity-based oil platform (GBS) provides an example of how the DOP provider worked with a contractor on a consultative basis. The resulting design advanced safety at reduced cost for this contractor, and it is already benefiting several other industries, including petrochemical facilities, processing facilities, power plants and commericial construction sites.