A team of eight work-at-height specialists representing rope access company Skyriders has safely completed the cleaning and maintenance of two storage tanks at a petrochemicals producer, in Mpumalanga.

The maintenance project, which was conducted during Level 5 of the Covid-19 lockdown period, required additional safety measures and clearances.

The additional measures ensured the safety of the team in respect of the work itself and the Covid-19 virus.

The team was vetted prior to the start of the project, with subsequent temperature checks every morning before work and every evening thereafter.

Every member was also supplied with approved sanitiser, as well as additional personal protective equipment for general use and for working in the tanks.

Special transport arrangements also had to be made so that the eight workers were transported safely while practising physical distancing.

The project required that high-pressure jetting be used to clean inside the structures, including the roof, columns and sides of the tanks, where residue or waste had accumulated. Each tank is 12 m high and 42 m in diameter.

“Skyriders was selected for the project, as the company has already proven the cost effective and speedy way in which it can conduct maintenance projects such as this one,” says Skyriders marketing manager Mike Zinn.

He adds that negating the need for a scaffolding structure reduces the cost on a project of this type substantially.

Additionally, the time it would take to erect and then remove the scaffolding, which normally detracts from the efficacy of the dated technique, is reduced.

“Skyriders can and does save clients millions of rands in formalities such as access,” enthuses Zinn.

He points out that an added benefit is the safe way in which the cleaning or maintenance is conducted.

“Skyriders technicians use rope access as a means of moving around to get into a suitable work position – once there, they are capable of performing a myriad of services such as cleaning, welding, non-destructive testing, inspection, painting, bolting, rigging.”

Zinn adds that the team even has coating inspectors, and drone pilots, who all have rope access experience.

“This gives us a diverse and qualified team for almost any rope access job.”

He concludes that the staff’s attitude towards the safety and quality of work makes the Skyriders teams among the best in the industry.