Offshore staff

LAFAYETTE, Louisiana -- Fire & Safety Specialists (FSS) introduced a pre-fabricated temporary barricade system at LAGCOE in Lafayette, Louisiana.

The Temporary Barricade System is designed to temporarily replace damaged or missing handrails on an offshore platform so work can continue. The system is pre-fabricated and requires no welding. Any offshore worker capable of tightening eight bolts is capable of clearing a hazard zone in eight minutes, says FSS.

The US patent-pending system consists of nylon straps tethered across aluminum posts that have been horizontal deflection tested to 980 lbs. Each kit (consisting of four free-standing units that expand to 10 ft [3 m]) provides 40 linear ft (12 m) of protection. When not in use, the barricade stores compactly in a carrying case that can be transported by helicopter or stored under a bunk.

"Anytime you encounter construction, you have to move a bridgeway or you have a storm that destroys a handrail, you need to address the safety risk," says Keith Bender of FSS. "We say, 'No more homemade fixes,' because those create their own problems. We're offering a product that's reliable and reusable and one that we feel will save a lot of lives."

The temporary barricade system is built by Lafayette-based Integrated Product Design and is sold by FSS.

10/26/2007