Dropsafe has launched a new perimeter safety net system to protect personnel and assets in offshore industries. The system attaches to the perimeter frames of helidecks to protect personnel from falling and prevent loose objects from becoming dynamic drops hazards.

As contractors and operators in the global offshore sector look to make their site safety programmes as robust as possible, airborne personnel transfers have come under increased scrutiny.

Perimeter safety nets are mandatory on all helidecks, yet this area of drops prevention has often been an afterthought. Demand for a high-quality solution in the offshore sector has followed growing awareness of the specific operational risks presented by helicopter landings. Drops can occur from foreign object debris blown or equipment being loosened by powerful helicopter downdraft.

The new system is designed to offer a high-quality solution to the challenges posed by drops on offshore helidecks. It consists of 100% Japanese-made 316 stainless steel wire and components.

Helidecks serve as a lifeline for offshore rigs and vessels, so it is important for operators that perimeter safety nets can be installed and maintained whilst keeping costly operational downtime to a minimum. In this context, traditional solutions constructed from coated metal, yarn and synthetic textiles may prove expensive in the long-term, as they are often resource-intensive to install and not suitably resistant to environmental factors. The marine-grade stainless steel perimeter safety net is therefore designed for harsh offshore environments and can be fitted quickly and easily, as well as requiring minimal maintenance. This makes it a low-cost ownership proposition for helideck owners.