Thinking safely indicates experience and professionalism

"Thinking safely and having practical solutions in safety indicates experience and professionalism" says Fredrik Sellberg, project manager and inspector at ERAB. Here Fredrik tells more about why he chooses to organise the company's training courses under the auspices of C2 Safety and what he himself has learned from several years of work in the repair industry.

ERAB carries out all kinds of contracts for brick, steel and concrete chimneys. Their customer base consists of Scandinavian industries in several different sectors such as steel, paper, refineries, heating plants, waste plants and nuclear power plants. ERAB currently employs around 15 people and those who want to work here need to be physically fit and able to cope with very high heights.

Hi Fredrik, tell us briefly about yourself and your work.

- I am a project manager and inspector at ERAB, where we work with inspection, repair and installation of all industrial chimneys on the market. I have worked at ERAB in different rounds since 1996, but I also have several years of experience as a self-employed person in the same industry. 

How did you get in touch with C2 Safety?

- In 2013 I did the IRATA 1 training with another company. When we later had to train an employee, we chose to conduct it at C2 Safety. Our employee was so satisfied with the professionalism and treatment that we chose to continue to organise our training at C2 Safety. I myself have chosen to update my previous IRATA training and also completed the Rope Rescue training at C2 Safety.

Your work involves daily rope work at high altitude, often in uncomfortable situations. How have you benefited from the training you have received from us?

- The main advantage of working with ropes is that we can access difficult positions in a much more efficient and faster way than before. This, in turn, reduces the cost for our clients because we spend less time on establishment. It is very valuable - almost a requirement - to have efficient working methods today. In this way you can also be at the forefront of the industry.

You have extensive experience in rope work at height. What are the three most important insights regarding safety in your profession?

- Firstly, I want to emphasise the importance of always having double security. Take one step at a time and think about which methods make you doubly secure. Above all, it is about being doubly secured individually, for example through backup rep in case something happens. Another insight is that it is important to have practical knowledge and familiarity with the equipment used.

Finally, I want to emphasise the positive side of the fact that safety has become a popular topic in the industry. Thinking safe and having practical solutions in security has become something cool and it shows experience and professionalism.

If you were to recommend C2 Safety's training programmes, what would you highlight?

- I think it is a very professional company and very good instructors who can take on the role in a good way. I would also like to emphasise that we have had very good cooperation with the purchase of products via C2 Safety.

C2 Safety is also very solution orientated. When I last updated my training, the Coronavirus had just broken out in earnest. I was impressed with how C2 Safety handled the situation by ensuring the safety of all participants from an infection point of view while making sure we could carry out all our planned trainings.

ABOUT ERAB

ERAB, Entreprenad Reparationer AB performs all kinds of contracts for chimneys in brick, steel and concrete. Their customer base consists of Scandinavian industries in several different sectors; steel, paper, refineries, heating plants, waste plants, nuclear power plants and other large public facilities such as hospitals and authorities.

ERAB cooperates with one of Europe's leading manufacturers of steel chimneys working with the latest production technologies. The head office is located in Örebro and their working area is the whole of Sweden and the Nordic countries.

Stakeholder meeting Work Environment Authority

Last week, we at C2 Safety participated in a stakeholder meeting with the Swedish Work Environment Authority with information about the work that is now underway to structure the work environment rules. The ambition is to clarify responsibilities and roles and make it easier to find. The number of regulatory booklets will be reduced from about 70 to 14. The current rules will be categorised after they have been edited linguistically and clarified.

Please watch this short information film describing the process. It is a very extensive work with a mix of old and new texts and is expected to be completed in 2023.

The continued focus is the so-called systematic work environment management, which in short means identifying and investigating work environment risks and taking measures to reduce/prevent those risks. Please contact us if you need support in your work environment management and/or risk analysis. info@c2safety.com.

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Read more here: https://www.av.se/om-oss/regel-och-foreskriftsarbete/regelfornyelse/

Risk Manager Online

A few weeks ago, we launched our first online training programme, Risk Management Online. When we saw that several of our customers had cancelled assignments and reduced workloads due to the pandemic, we felt it was time for us to give back. The interest was great and the online course was fully booked the same day we launched it. A good mix of companies, industries and experiences combined with a high level of commitment resulted in good discussions and questions. We also discussed the participants' own challenges in groups. Here's the story Christer Hed, a firefighter at Räddningstjänsten in Medelpad, more about the challenges of his professional role and what he thought of the Risk Management Online programme.

What is your role at Räddningstjänsten i Medelpad?
I work as a firefighter and instructor, which means training both part-time and full-time firefighters in several areas such as fire, rescue, hazardous materials, management and more.

What do you think are the main challenges of working at height?
The major challenges of working at height for me are to be able to give the new part-time firefighters and new substitutes the best possible basic training that we can work on. The hope is that they will be motivated and inspired by being able to work as safely and efficiently as possible at height. For our full-time employees, we work to ensure that everyone feels confident in the equipment and methods we have, a little "Back to Basic", to keep everything simple. Sometimes we tend to get complicated, which is why it's good to be able to discuss issues with an external party like C2 to gain perspective.

What do you take away from the Risk Management programme?
What I take away from the Risk Management training is that you can never have too much training or repetition when it comes to risk management and risk analysis. And that when we identify a risk, we can implement a measure to minimise or remove the risk. Then I think your instructors are super good, I have previously attended training with both Erik and David, and now also with James and have only good things to say about them! They are very knowledgeable and give a professional impression. It is never a problem to ask for advice after a course or exchange ideas with them.

Are you curious about our courses? You can find our full course calendar here. Don't fit the dates offered? Get in touch with us!

Delivery information on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Delivery information from C2 Vertical Safety

Due to the current situation regarding Covid 19, we would like to inform you that our ambition is to maintain our deliveries as usual. We monitor the course of events and closely follow the development and the authorities' information.

Prioritisation of deliveries to critical societal functions

C2 Vertical Safety has decided to prioritise deliveries to critical functions if the availability of certain goods is limited.

We have a large stock of goods with good delivery capacity and have daily deliveries to all of Sweden. As far as possible, we try to deliver your order on the same day as the order is placed. This may be subject to change.

Our suppliers from different parts of the world have varying action plans regarding production and deliveries in an attempt to reduce the spread of Covid 19. This may mean that we currently cannot give an answer when certain products will be back in stock.

In some cases, we can offer similar products directly. We will let you know if this is possible.

Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

Take care of yourselves

Warm greetings,

C2 Vertical Safety

C2 & LYON - TOTAL WORK AT HEIGHT SOLUTIONS

November 5-8 it's time for A+A in Düsseldorf - the largest international trade forum for safety, security and health at work. This year is the first time we are participating at the forum, and we do it together with our international partner Lyon Equipment. Meet us in Hall 7A, stand E26.

We offer a comprehensive solution for professionals who work at height. We supply and distribute market leading specialist equipment, we also provide innovative design, in-house manufacturing and servicing capabilities. Combining these assets with our world class training facilities and staff enables us to deliver the right solution for your needs. We call our comprehensive solution 360° - it encompasses Consultancy, Training and Equipment.

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EQUIPMENT

Having fall protection systems for working at height is not enough, we can help you select appropriate equipment solutions by working with you to understand your needs.

TRAINING

Working at height can be incredibly challenging even with the best equipment, we offer world-class facilities and training for working at height, rope access and technical rescue in difficult to access environments.

CONSULTANCY

Effective working solutions come from a comprehensive understanding of the task. Our extensive experience across multiple sectors enables us to provide a range of services. Our services include task analysis and advice on systems of work, external quality assurance of training functions and technical report authorship.

A+A, 5-8 November in Düsseldorf, is the largest international trade forum for safety, security and health at work. Meet us in Hall 7A, stand E26.

Book a meeting with us! Contact us us.
Read more about the A+A trade forum here!
Read more about Lyon Equipment

Morgan Eriksson - new instructor with us

Our new instructor Morgan has since the start in May been busy with trainings and projects at C2 Vertical Safety. We caught up with him between two course blocks to get a short presentation of the guy from Uppsala who in recent years has chosen to spend the winters north of the Arctic Circle.

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Hi Morgan,

Tell us more, what have you done so far up the country?

Among other things, I work as an avalanche specialist for the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and for various ski resorts such as Riksgränsen, Björkliden and Narvik, as well as for the private sector.

But now you are at C2, how did you end up here?

I did some assignments in Rope Access for C2 about eleven years ago when I originally come from Uppsala. Last spring, in connection with my electrician training to broaden my expertise in rope access, I came into contact with C2 again. I then asked if they needed instructors and it turned out that they were in the middle of a growth phase.

Do you benefit from your experience as an avalanche specialist at C2?

Absolutely, recently I was up in Idre Fjäll and carried out a lift evacuation training as an instructor on C2. During the courses we talk about how to handle a pressured and stressful situation where many resources have to be organised. My experience as a rescue leader comes in handy here. I have worked in several severe avalanche scenarios and lift evacuation operations.

Can you tell us more about your visit to Idre Fjäll?

It was a stage 2 lift evacuation training that was carried out there. The staff at the facility already know how to perform evacuations, but they wanted some people at the facility to have very good detailed knowledge and know how to practise evacuation on their own. When you run a facility that has a chairlift or gondola, you have to be able to evacuate the lifts on people. For this, there are different techniques to use.

Can you tell us how an evacuation works?

C2 has a ready-made set of methods for this type of training where staff work in teams of two. One person climbs the mast and hooks up a wheel. With the help of a rope, the person rides the wire in a controlled manner to the basket to help the people sitting in it. The second person in the team secures, and depending on the situation, this is done from the ground or up the mast. The people are brought down one by one in a safe way. Aerial evacuations usually go well, but can take time and can be uncomfortable for the occupants.

An insight into the everyday life of the emergency services

At the end of September, Skadeplats, the Swedish Emergency Services' annual conference, was held in Uppsala. The event house UKK, Uppsala Concert and Congress and Fyrislund Fire Station welcomed almost 450 people from our Swedish Rescue Services who, during two intensive autumn days, took on the theme of experience transfer.

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Our team from C2 Vertical Safety was also on site in Uppsala and held a demonstration on UKK's main stage where a rescue was staged together with Uppsala Fire Brigade. The conference participants were then driven out to a test station at the Fyrislund training tower to test methods and new equipment.

- Very interesting meetings and good discussions. I'm pleased that more people are realising the importance of safety at height and rescue," says Martin Malmberg, Marketing Manager at C2 Safety, summarising his participation in the conference. "It's good to see that several rescue service associations have a long-term plan for how to maintain competence in work climbing," he continues.

The event is aimed at operational emergency services personnel working at the scene of an incident. Other emergency services personnel, industrial fire brigades, politicians, government officials, county councils, etc. are also welcome to participate.

There is no such thing as bad weather...

With the right equipment, even a rainy and wet activity can be enjoyable. Today, there is a plethora of high-quality rainproof clothing and waterproof bags. Nevertheless, many people worry that moisture and dust will penetrate and damage electronic equipment such as mobile phones or camera equipment.

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When Nite Ize launched RunOff - a brand new collection of dust and waterproof bags in five different sizes - this spring, many people wanted to go out into the storm to test the products.

- We at C2 absolutely love the product, it has come with us on many adventures during the summer and we see many uses for it, both for our professional and sports customers, says Martin Malmberg, Director of Sales and Marketing at C2 Vertical Safety.

Bags with new innovation

All the bags are equipped with a transparent surface to make it easier for you to see what they contain. But the biggest news is that the bag collection has been equipped with Nite Ize's own innovation, TRU™ Zip, a durable TPU construction with RF-welded seams that is a water- and dust-proof zip with self-adhesive closure. This makes the product dust and waterproof to IP67.

What does IP67 mean?

The IP rating describes how well protected a product is against solid particles and water. IP stands for International Protection and is followed by two numbers. The first number indicates the degree of protection against solid particles, such as sand and dust. The second number indicates the degree of protection against penetrating liquids (water). The higher the number, the better the protection. For solid particles, the scale goes from 0 to 6 and for water, the scale goes from 0 to 8.

What will the bag hold?

The RunOff collection has the highest protection against solid particles, which means full protection against dust particles. A seven in water resistance means it passes the second toughest test, being submerged 15-100 cm in water for 30 minutes. An eight, which is the highest rating for water resistance, means it's waterproof - and that's something we'd never want to see on a weather forecast!

Briefly summarised: Ignore the weather forecast and get out and enjoy!

RunOff Waterproof Wallet: cards, cash, small accessories.
RunOff Waterproof Pocket: mobile phone, documents, cables.
RunOff Waterproof 3-1-1 bag: carrier fluids (meets TSA standards).
RunOff Waterproof Neccesary: toiletries, other accessories.
RunOff Waterproof Medium Packing Cube: underwear, gym wear.
RunOff Waterproof Large Packing Cube: shoes, boots, clothes and larger packing.

Watch the commercial about RunOff and its different uses here https://youtu.be/Y8Lue7H2qRk

Weine keeps track of the controls

High heights are no problem when you have a background from an acrobatic circus life. Let us introduce Weine Pernersten, instructor with multiple responsibilities at C2 Vertical Safety.

If you have been in contact with C2 Vertical Safety to have your personal protective equipment checked, you have probably been in contact with Weine. Weine is responsible for PPE (personal protective equipment) at C2, which in practice means ensuring that both our own and our customers' personal protective equipment is always checked according to the regulations that exist.
In 2013, Weine started his career as an instructor with us at C2. Before that, he was self-employed and project manager in the entertainment industry, mainly focused on circus and variety. Weine's pragmatic approach and good organisational skills were put to good use at C2, and today it is Weine who keeps track of most things when it comes to C2's training facility in Uppsala.

Periodic on-the-spot checks

Companies often choose to send their PPE equipment for the periodic inspection. C2 receives both small packages and full pallets of equipment to be checked and registered. There are also companies and organisations that do not have the opportunity to drop off their protective equipment, such as the Emergency Services. In these cases, we visit the customer instead, and it is usually Weine who inspects on site. If you also need a special arrangement for checking PPE equipment, we will find a suitable solution for you.

FIVE TIPS from Weine to get a grip on control

  • Make a clear note in your own calendar when it is time to check your PPE.
  • Label your products to remind you when it is time to check them. Please note that you must follow the product manual on where to attach the label!
  • For smaller businesses, it's a good idea to let someone else do the checking. Make sure you send in your PPE when you go on holiday and you'll have it back when you're back in plastic.
  • Large companies should designate a person responsible for ensuring that controls are carried out. Either by carrying out the checks themselves (see current course here), or have them taken care of by an external party.
  • Use an online tool specifically designed for this type of documentation, we recommend Papertrail. Among other things, you'll receive notifications when it's time for a check, and you won't risk losing or misplacing information if a computer breaks down or an employee leaves.

Here you can read more about Fall protection equipment and how we work with it.