Safety is a top priority

This also applies in particular to the development of new products. "Safety in the workplace is one of the most important responsibilities of all for an entrepreneur. After all, we are talking about human lives that must be effectively protected from danger," says Ferdinand Munk, Managing Director of Günzburger Steigtechnik. Companies are facing up to this responsibility more than ever and are making targeted investments in occupational safety. "As an innovation leader in the access technology sector, we offer such solutions. The aim is to get people up and back down safely." Günzburger Steigtechnik has already set trends in this respect. As an example, Munk cites the flexible nivello ladder shoe, which compensates for uneven floors, and the "roll-bar" traverse for back-friendly handling of rung ladders.

"The aim is to get people up and back down safely." Ferdinand Munk, Günzburger Steigtechnik

The company also develops innovations on a project basis with customers. "We offer customized solutions such as fully electric work and maintenance platforms or walkway systems that combine maximum efficiency, productivity and safety," says Munk. Special solutions are in demand like never before. "This shows the increasing importance of occupational safety." This is also reflected in the company's new developments, such as the flexible Flexx Work plank system. This combines the advantages of working decks and small scaffolding. "Flexx Work can be reconfigured for every application, so that the user can always ensure particularly safe working conditions thanks to the variety of assembly variants," explains Munk. The company also intends to offer individually developed solutions for special constructions in the future.

20,000 accidents per year in Germany

Safety is also a top priority for Zarges GmbH. "Employer responsibility, occupational health and safety and employee health are closely linked. With unsecured scaffolding and wobbly ladders, even one wrong step can have serious consequences," says Höbke Thomssen, Product Manager at Zarges. The Employer's Liability Insurance Association for the Construction Industry (BG Bau) registered 20,000 accidents across Germany in 2016. "Against this backdrop, it is essential to consistently reduce the risk of accidents." Ladders are exposed to high physical stress. This is why quality manufacturers focus on stability and material resistance right from the production and development of their products. From Zarges' point of view, companies class ladders, especially rung ladders, as a safety risk. "As a result, there is a trend away from traditional ladders towards safe working platforms, platform stairs and scaffolding," says Thomssen. For scaffolding, Zarges relies on the advanced guardrail. This ensures that the person is protected at all times and does not have to install individual parts such as the push-on frame at great heights.