The winter months mean working in harsh weather conditions with wind, ice and snow all creating added hazards for industries that work at height.

Powered access platforms are not only designed to be safe and fully functional in bad winter weather, they are used for essential maintenance tasks in towns and in the countryside after bad storms or snowfall. .

Working in extreme cold can increase the health and safety risks for workers and create additional access problems. All-terrain powered access platforms are designed to minimise the risks and challenges posed by winter weather conditions. They are tracked which spreads the weight of the equipment and makes it easier to reach hard to get to places, on and off road, and they are safe and stable. Because they can be used quickly and easily, they minimise the exposure of workers who are out in the cold getting the job done

Models such as the Dino Lift 265RXT are designed to reach higher in demanding work environments. It is lightweight and agile, with four-wheel drive and three different steering modes, so it is more mobile and easy to use on rough terrain. An articulated riser and telescopic boom makes it possible to reach over obstacles, such as fallen trees or snow drifts, and a sophisticated levelling mechanism keeps it stable and safe to use even when set up on severely sloping terrain.

Even in the world's most extreme weather conditions, powered access platforms are relied upon to get the job done. Specially adapted platforms with snow tracks, specialist oils and hostile environment kits have been used in Antarctica for construction projects on the compacted snow and ice of the Brunt Ice Shelf.

Powered access platforms are essential for a number of jobs in icy conditions that keep our infrastructure and living environment safe and functional:

• Airports rely on powered access to de-ice planes before take-off which prevents additional flight delays. Ice can build up on the wings and structure of the plane creating a drag effect or even preventing take off. Powered access platforms are used to spray the plane with a de-icer that works at temperatures way below freezing.
• Powered access platforms are used to make streets and built up areas safe in extreme weather conditions, with essential maintenance such as removing icicles from the roofs of buildings which can be hazardous if they fall, clearing blocked guttering and mending roofs that have been damaged by wind or icy conditions.
• Rescue situations and emergency services, including mountain rescue and the fire brigade, rely on powered access to manage situations quickly and safely even in bad weather and in challenging environments.

These are just a few of the ways that powered access platforms are used to keep the country going in the harsh winter months. They are designed to cope with the harsh demands of winter weather conditions on and off road. With the ability to be stable and safe and to access difficult areas, even in the face of obstacles, they are vital to safety in the working and living environments.