09.11.2009

Emergency access required

Bradford-based Blade Access provided emergency access to the roof edge on one of the tallest hotels in Leeds City Centre in the UK earlier today.

An aluminium cladding panel had fallen from the building during recent high winds but luckily landed on an adjoining building's roof top. However, numerous other panels had become loose and posed a threat to passing pedestrians below.
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Blade's Wumag WT700 travelled from Scotland and was on site 6.30 this morning

The hotel is located on one of the busiest pedestrian routes opposite Leeds train station so it was vital the panels were repaired with urgency.

Just 30 minutes after receiving the initial enquiry yesterday, Blade was in an emergency meeting with Leeds City Council, the Hotel and the adjoining Church, produced a detailed method and risk assessment for works to commence today.
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A safe working drop zone was created using Harris fencing, work cones and barrier tape.

“Our Wumag WT700 travelled down from Scotland was onsite this morning at 6:30am,” said Blade’s Mark Bell. “To ensure the safety of all passing pedestrians, a safe working drop zone was created using Harris fencing, work cones and barrier tape. The panels were refixed and are now secure eliminating any further danger to the public.”

“Due to ground weight restrictions, the Wumag WT700 was the only machine capable of completing the work,” he said. “With a height of 66.7 metres and 21 metres outreach from the pedestrian footpath outside the hotel, the WT700 got the job done both efficiently and with minimum disruption to the commuters in Leeds this morning.”
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