Case Study: Kee Guard & Bespoke Access Ladder Installation for NHS Properties

Due to the speed at which the client needed to progress the programme, Safesite carried out remote surveys to accelerate the initial assessment and design process.

Following discussions with the client and a review of the available site information, Safesite recommended full freestanding Kee Guard® edge protection for the relevant roof areas.

For lower, single-storey buildings, standard roof access arrangements alone would not provide the most appropriate solution. Safesite therefore designed bespoke ladder access platforms to enable temporary ladders to be positioned safely and provide users with a secure transition onto the rooftop.

This tailored approach allowed the client to benefit from a complete roof safety solution rather than addressing edge protection and roof access as separate issues.

Multi-Site Project Coordination

One of the biggest challenges was the number of properties that needed to be assessed within a relatively short timeframe.

Following the initial Teams meeting with the client, Safesite's team worked collaboratively to determine how the programme could be progressed as efficiently as possible.

Rather than processing each site sequentially, the properties were divided across the team. This allowed multiple proposals to be developed simultaneously, helping the client understand what could be delivered within the available budget and accelerating the route from initial enquiry to installation.

The coordinated approach between Safesite's Sales, technical and delivery teams was instrumental in meeting the client's requirements and progressing as many priority sites as possible.

Safesite developed a combination of Kee Guard freestanding edge protection and bespoke ladder access platforms to provide safe access tailored to the individual properties.

Kee Guard Freestanding Edge Protection

Kee Guard provides a collective fall protection solution, protecting everyone accessing the roof rather than relying solely on individual users attaching themselves to a personal fall protection system.

The system offered several advantages for the NHS properties:

• Freestanding and non-penetrative, avoiding the need to fix through the roof surface.
• Collective protection for maintenance personnel and subcontractors.
• Quick installation with little or no disturbance to normal site operations.
• A durable solution suitable for ongoing maintenance access.
• Compliance with BS 13700:2021 requirements.

By enclosing exposed roof edges, the system created a safer working environment for teams carrying out routine inspections and maintenance.

Bespoke Ladder Access Platforms

Safesite also designed bespoke ladder access platforms for single-storey and lower roof areas.

The platforms were developed to allow temporary access ladders to be used more safely while creating a stable transition point between the ladder and roof.

Rather than adopting a standardised solution across every building, the platforms could be designed around the specific access conditions of each property. This provided the client with a practical solution that complemented the Kee Guard edge protection and created a more complete safe-access system.

Once approval was received, Safesite mobilised quickly to meet the client's programme.

The Kee Guard systems and bespoke access solutions were installed efficiently, with careful consideration given to minimising disturbance at operational healthcare properties.

The ability to move rapidly from enquiry and remote survey through to design, proposal and installation was particularly valuable to the client, allowing priority working-at-height issues to be addressed within the required timeframe.

This project demonstrates Safesite's ability to deliver multi-site fall protection and safe access programmes where speed, compliance and flexibility are essential.

By combining Kee Guard collective edge protection with purpose-designed ladder access platforms, Safesite provided a solution that addressed both the risks at roof level and the challenge of safely reaching those areas in the first place.

With more than 30 years of experience in fall protection and safe access, Safesite supports healthcare estates, public sector organisations and commercial property portfolios with services covering surveying, design, installation, training and recertification.

Managing working-at-height safety across multiple properties? Contact Safesite today to discuss Kee Guard edge protection, bespoke ladder access platforms and tailored roof safety solutions for your estate.