Aldersgate Project London – Rope Access

Taskmasters were contacted by the client when they were approached with a dilemma where they were nearing completion on a large refurbishment contract. They were requested by the client to remove all decorative lighting domes that cover a majority of areas to all elevations above the fourth floor up to the twelfth floor.

The organisation came across a unique challenge as the building complex is surrounded by short narrow curbs and walkways with some of the busiest roads around central London, it is also a popular area for tourists due to being in close vicinity of St Pauls Cathedral and the Museum of London. The organisation called in Taskmasters after exhausting other avenues such as Scaffolding or Hydraulic Access machines. Scaffolding was unrealistic due to the building surrounds leading to four different road areas that could not be closed off for long periods of time, which the local councils refused to even consider.

The other option was the use of Hydraulic Access Platforms, but after short consideration was also deemed as unrealistic due to potentially blocking parts of the roads near main access routes to the roundabout that is situated next to the London Museum. This option would also totally block the smaller roads to the side streets to the rear sections of the building complex, so this was decided unrealistic and not a feasible option.

Taskmasters produced a detailed feasibility study on the possible use of Industrial Rope Access methods, covering multiple areas to a magnitude of elevations with strict consideration to the safety of the planned operatives carrying out the project and more importantly strict consideration to prevent risks to third parties, i.e. contractors on site and members of the public. The additional consideration was working around other contractors also seeking to gain access to the same areas near the rigging points whilst the abseilers accessed the drop-zones. Taskmasters took possession of the areas and controlled the foot traffic from third party contractors, allowing them to work in the designated areas ensuring and policing these possession areas are at no risk to abseilers and contractors. There was also close security maintained to public areas below the drop-zones where Taskmasters had Rope Sentries to all areas where elevations needed to be accessed.

The project was estimated to take approximately 3 weeks, but in fact took 2 weeks to complete by six industrial Rope Access Technicians. The project was completed a whole week before the original projected time with complete satisfaction of the customer, the project was completed with no risk to any party.

The other point that the customer made us aware of after completion was that the quote they originally received was in fact five times the price of our quotation.

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