Project overview
Customer:
Oil, gas and refining plant
Product used:
ErectaStep modular stairs and work platforms
Location:
Midland, TX
Challenge:
Approximately 400 tripping hazards were discovered during a site risk assessment, preventing the plant from going into operation.
Solution:
Using locally stocked products, our associate custom-configured, delivered and helped install a comprehensive OSHA-compliant access system to mitigate the hazards within 72 hours.
Key result:
Minimal lead time saved $1.7 million per day in lost operating revenue.
Project background
Midland, Texas, is an isolated location, nestled amid some of the nation’s least populated stretches of land and hours away from any major city. Its economy—like most population centers in the Permian Basin—relies heavily on the oil, gas and refining industry.
Challenge
A pre-operational risk assessment at a Midland-area plant identified approximately 400 trip-and-fall hazards. These included areas where the plant’s employees would have to step over dike walls and wires or stand on pipe to be able to operate valves.
The assessed risks prevented the plant from entering operation, resulting in $1.7 million in lost revenue per day of downtime.
Solution
The plant contacted our local product experts to address the safety concerns. Our associate conducted an on-site review and identified ErectaStep modular stairs and work platforms as a viable solution. Using ErectaStep’s intuitive design software, the associate was able to configure an OSHA-compliant access system in real time during the site visit.
The proposed system combined ErectaStep’s five standard modular components to provide walkways, elevation changes and workspaces that aligned with the plant’s unique needs and stated safety concerns. Because of the plant’s remote location, obtaining an equivalent access system from a competitor could have prolonged downtime for weeks.
But as a stocking distributor of ErectaStep, we had enough product in stock at our Midland location to cover the full scope of the project’s material needs in a single expedited delivery.
Once the product arrived at the plant, our team provided on-site assistance to get the system installed correctly, safely and efficiently.
About ErectaStep
ErectaStep’s line of industrial metal stairs and work platforms eliminate the need for custom fabrication. With its patented modular design, an ErectaStep system can be configured in real time to provide safe access for maintenance and crossover applications.
These modular components are constructed from durable, high-quality materials to withstand the harsh environments of industrial facilities and maximize product reliability.
The Ferguson Industrial difference
Because of our close partnership with ErectaStep, our team was able to fulfill the order for an OSHA-compliant access system—from configuration to delivery to installation—in just 72 hours. Our national footprint and commitment to maintaining relationships with approved manufacturers enable us to provide high-quality solutions wherever necessary with as little lead time as possible.
Explore how we can drive safety and efficiency for your company at ferguson.com/industrial.