The safe way to success

It’s only when you feel safe that you can concentrate on the job and perform at your best. An obvious truth, but one that particularly needs to be heeded in construction, where the accident rate is twice as high as in other sectors. Study after study has shown that on safe jobsites, people work faster. Quite apart from human suffering and loss of value-creation, accidents also cause heavy costs ranging from sick-leave to legal consequences which may even include work on the site being stopped altogether. The old objection to installing safety systems is that it “means more work”; Doka has made this objection ever less relevant by developing quick and easy-to-operate safety innovations for every type of forming assignment.

All-round safety right from the word ‘go’

A holistic understanding of safety begins right from when formwork systems are still under development. Safety, ease of handling and ergonomic design are among the key characteristics of Doka products. This begins with the choice of materials for the system components, and with the documentation on how the product is used. The use of high-grade materials for all formwork components not only makes them last longer, it makes them safer, too. The Doka product range undergoes continuous testing and onward development with regard to safety, and as a result Doka formwork systems are dependable and efficient equipment for every construction project.

Systematic safety

Doka systems unite speed, safety and cost effectiveness on the site. For a high standard of safety, Doka offers complete systems for floor, wall or column formwork. These come with ‘on-board’ protection features such as ladderways or working platforms with integral edge protection. Pre-assembly of the protective elements at ground level, and easy-to-use connector components that allow the formwork and platform to be repositioned in one piece, make for swift, safe work on the site. Doka’s own platform systems, such as Bracket platform M or Folding platform K, are reliable, easy to use and versatile.

Vertical-access solutions such as the Stair tower or the Ladder system XS give Doka customers a ‘safe way up to great heights’, with access to all work-deck levels. These systems’ ergonomical design facilitates efficient workflows by letting crew climb up and down with less physical effort – and in safety.

New developments such as the Framed enclosure Xbright for the protection-screen system Xclimb 60 provide a new quality of working on the site. With its windproof but translucent polycarbonate inlay, Xbright makes possible a working environment that is pleasant and above all safe.

Safety pays dividends in repositioning and handling operations as well. Innovative solutions like the self-climbing and crane-independent Table Lifting System TLS or the high-performing DoKart set a benchmark for vertical or horizontal repositioning of tableforms and optimise site logistics in terms of safety and speed.

Safe, from the planning phase through until completion

As early as in the planning phase, Doka supports its customers with professional consulting and its long expertise with safety issues. In-depth analysis of the initial situation provides the basis for individualised solutions in which suitable products such as ladderways and protection systems are incorporated into the formwork planning right from the start. Efficient usage of formwork systems is achieved not only by the features themselves, but even more so by using their components correctly. This is why high-quality documentation such as formwork utilisation plans, instruction manuals and safety data sheets are such an important basis for a safe site. Services such as practical, relevant training offerings, Formwork Instructors and fielding technical advisers facilitate a high level of safety on-site.

Dokadek 30 – wall-to-wall safety

Panel floor formwork Dokadek 30 embodies safety right down to the last detail. The beamless hand-set system Dokadek 30 is very easy to operate, with an erection and dismantling sequence that is so straightforward that even semi-skilled crew members are soon familiar with it. At the same time, this floor-slab formwork scores for high speed, not only during set-up but also during dismantling. All operations can be performed from the safety of floor level, with no need to walk on the formwork. The panels’ rectangular shape means that it takes users much less effort to engage them in the prop heads and then to tilt them up safely from below, even when forming higher rooms. When the panels are being engaged, the Dokadek 30 heads hold them and fix them safely. At the usual heights, the free ends of the panels are raised with the Dokadek assembling tool, while at greater heights the DekLift P 4.50m is used. The anti-liftout guard integrated in the Dokadek 30 heads reliably prevents panels accidentally falling off. At the same time, the panels are also automatically secured against accidental lift-out and wind action, with no extra precautions needed.

Award-winning successes

Certifications such as the CE and GS Marks are a visible sign of the reliability of Doka products.
The Doka Safety Network (DSN) gives Doka staff, customers and experts a forum where they can exchange news, views and new ideas about safety. These efforts have won Doka a great many distinctions and safety awards, including the Good Practice Award of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, and the Spanish Institute of Building Engineering (CGATE) prize for safety in building construction.
A high safety standard motivates construction site workers to perform at maximum levels and reduces the risk that in a worst-case scenario the construction site comes to a standstill. Studies provide evidence that: the factor for calculating “return on prevention” is 2.2. That means: an investment in safety measures of € 1 Mio. leads to an ROP of € 2.2 Mio.

Much more than just a policy

At Doka, solutions featuring all-round safety are an integral part of the company’s culture, making The Formwork Experts top-calibre people to work with on all safety issues. Safety is also written large within the company itself. Internal campaigns, and measures that go well beyond what the law requires, send a clear signal. Various initiatives foster awareness of the topic, and make an important contribution towards motivating employees. With the d^s logo, Doka has created its own distinctive symbol that immediately points both customers and employees to safety-related aspects.