Aircraft maintenance can be a major project involving significant engineering processes, or it can consist of minor checks and repairs between flights. However, regardless of the extent of the operation, it is imperative it is carried out as quickly and efficiently as possible to reduce any downtime for the aircraft and keep costs for the airline to a minimum.
The hazards and risks involved in aviation maintenance work are similar to those found in construction. However, the nonlinear shape of aircraft and the intricate maintenance tasks that must be carried out without causing any damage to the surface or structure of the aircraft can create difficult working environments that could pose additional risks. Much of this maintenance work will include working at height, so it is imperative that the maintenance engineers can work in the knowledge that they are safe.
Falls from height are an increasing major contributor to the fatal occupational injuries recorded by the National Census. In 2017, 17 percent (887 people) of those killed at work were a result of high level falls. Additionally, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, between 2011 and 2016, 26 percent of fatal work related falls were from lower levels and invariably included falling from ladders. These statistics demonstrate that working at height can be dangerous and, if accidents occur, they can be life threatening or have a dramatic effect on the individual. All the more reason why specially designed access steps and platforms provide a safe working environment.
Further confirmation of the importance of providing a safe working at height environment is OSHA’s requirement that workers on surfaces “with an unprotected side or edge which is 6 feet or more above a lower level shall be protected from falling by the use of guardrail systems, safety-net systems, or personal fall-arrest systems.”
Types of Aviation Access Equipment
The aviation industry has a wide range of access and ground support equipment that enables aircraft engineers to conduct their maintenance work safely. At the forefront of aviation access platform design and ground support equipment is British engineering company, Semmco. Recently established in Arlington, TX, Semmco designs, manufactures, installs, and services a wide range of access steps and platforms for both narrow and wide-bodied aircraft. The company will manufacture its entire range of products at this new facility so that it can provide products, local support, and servicing to its North American clients that include Air Canada, Delta, and American Airlines.
Semmco’s range of modular platforms can be used across multiple aircraft, ultimately saving time and money for its customers. Products in the range are easy to operate and locate, limiting manual handling and improving efficiency and include adjustable handrails. Some of the platforms include a mechanism to adjust their height so that they can be used across multiple aircraft. Manufactured from quality materials, and designed with the user in mind, the products enable the engineers to work safely whilst also preventing potential damage to the aircraft.
Founder and managing director at Semmco, Stuart McOnie explains, “Demand for aviation maintenance in the USA is increasing due to the upsurge of airline passengers. Our USA facility will support the growth in demand for high quality, reliable, and safe MRO equipment across the region. We are incredibly conscious of the welfare of workers and protecting them against the potential hazards they may face at work. We want to create equipment that will support them in what they do, enabling them to do their work efficiently but also, safely.”
Providing a safe working environment is not the only focus for the design of the equipment. Some of the working at height steps and platforms need to be able to be moved around the aircraft whether it is in the hangar or airside. Consequently, all Semmco access steps and platforms are manufactured from lightweight aluminum, incorporating simple height adjustable systems so that they can be raised or lowered depending on the differing heights of the aircraft, and because they are lightweight but sturdy, can be easily moved around the aircraft, hangar, or tarmac.
“Not only does providing engineers with intelligently built equipment keep them safe from workplace risks associated with tasks such as working at height, but prioritizing worker welfare and well-being through ergonomically designed equipment improves productivity, service quality, and employee engagement, and helps to create a better safety culture,” explains McOnie.
New Facility in U.S.
The Arlington facility (18,000 square feet) opened for business in January 2019 and is central to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, encompassing 13 counties in the state of Texas. A team of four from Semmco UK moved to Texas to set up the company, bringing their experience and knowledge to this new subsidiary. Going forward, the company will focus on recruiting local people, engineers, assembly workers, and administration staff. By the end of 2019, Semmco is aiming to have more than 10 local employees working on the site.
Ultimately, the facility in Arlington will act as a hub for the U.S., providing service and equipment for customers across the country. Product development, manufacturing, and repairs will all be managed and delivered from Dallas although the company will also carry out repairs at the customers’ sites if required.
About Semmco:
Established in 1993, Semmco HQ and factory is based in Woking, UK, with other offices in Texas, USA, and Dubai, UAE. Semmco operates globally, supplying major airlines and rail operatives, the military, and other industries with access requirements for maintenance of machinery. Semmco LPS offer respiratory safety equipment for teams working in high-risk working environments.
Semmco holds the ISO9001-2015 accreditation, and MRP and 5S have also been implemented. The company has also been awarded accreditation from Safe Contractor for its commitment to achieving excellence in health and safety and in 2019 received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade for Outstanding Short Term Growth in overseas sales.
