William Frick Announces Innovative JoistMate™ Attic Safety Platform

Wooden joists in many attics pose a safety threat for anyone working in the overhead space.  William Frick -- a leading producer of custom identification products like tags, signs and utility markers -- has expanded its line of safety offerings to include the JoistMate attic platform.
 
The JoistMate attic safety platform secures between either 16-inch oc (on center) or 24-inch oc joist spacings to form a solid platform upon which builders, technicians, exterminators and others can traverse wooden attic joists safely. 
 
 "William Frick created the JoistMate for a national broadband company that sends workers into the attic every day," said Evie Bennett, William Frick vice president of sales and marketing.  "The company told us their technicians love it as it provides a solid, nonslip platform on which to perform their work.  Plus, with stories circulating about technicians falling through the attic into the kitchen or baby nursery below, having something that significantly reduces that risk is definitely appreciated."
 
Made of non-conductive, extruded high-density polyethylene (HDPE), the impact-resistant JoistMate attic platform withstands the temperature extremes of winter and summer.  The platform measures 21 by 26 inches and supports up to 700 pounds, yet weighs just 10 pounds -- the lightest attic safety platform on the market.  The high-visibility and high-friction striping ensures the technician can readily see the boundaries of the platform even in low-light conditions.  A convenient shoulder carrying strap is included with the JoistMate, which is sold in sets of two.
 
NIOSH Notes On-the-job Falls are a Serious Hazard

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), occupational fatalities caused by falls from elevated levels are a serious work hazard.  Data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries indicate that "falls are one of the leading causes of traumatic injury or death in the workplace, accounting for 13.7% of such deaths (808 of 5,900) in 2001.  During that year, 23 workers died in falls through skylights, 11 died in falls through existing roof openings, and 24 died in falls through existing floor openings."
 
Bennett noted that "Falls are a bigger problem than the general public may realize. With worker safety one of our top priorities, William Frick is happy to offer the JoistMate as a way to prevent some of these accidents."
 
Frick Guidelines on Attic Safety

William Frick recommends that workers take basic precautions to protect themselves from falling through the attic into the room below:
 
• Never step between the attic joists as the material likely forms the ceiling of the room below and may not support your weight
 
• Rely on a sturdy platform that secures to the joists rather than a piece of plywood, which can slip or break
 
• Before you leave the work area, securely cover any holes you made or uncovered because other workers might not notice an uncovered hole and fall through
 
• Ensure you know the safety procedures to follow when working in the attic
 
Enhanced Series of Safety Products

With the addition of the JoistMate to its product line, William Frick continues its tradition of providing telecom, CATV and other industrial customers with an array of safety products.  In addition to producing danger labels, caution flags and pocket safety cards, Frick creates hazard signs such as high-voltage warnings, safety posters and portable warning signs about storm damage.