Working at a height is one of the most hazardous activities. The high amount of risks is compounded with a lack of proper safety norms. Almost all work at a height in India is carried out with ladders and scaffolding. And yet the problems are many, including: (1) No use of railings for ladders. (2) Manual handling of ladders. (3) A lack of competent people for erecting scaffolding and inspection. (4) Building and dismantling of scaffolding are time consuming and risky activities.

There was no avoiding the problem, as working at heights is a part of routine activities in the plants. What was needed instead, was a solution to the process. The ‘We Care’ Engineering Solution Group stepped in to lend their expertise. What they proposed was an entire overhaul of the system, by using an elevated work platform instead. This eliminated the need for a worker to scale to the height, cutting out the risk of falling.

While the principal benefit of worker safety was immediately met, the process had additional positive outcomes. The absence of scaffolding reduced the amount of man power and time to erect it, and increased productivity. Initially piloted in Surat, the move was so successful that it has been replicated in every Ambuja plant. When it comes to safety our people will go to any lengths, and heights.