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Striving for Zero Fall Incidents
A safe workplace starts with the right safety measures. At AWS Zwanenburg—both at the wastewater treatment plant and at both sludge treatment plants—employees come into contact with open pits, equipment, and changes in elevation on a daily basis. A single misstep here can have serious consequences. One of the most effective measures? The Liende concept: a smart and certified fall protection system that has been rolled out on a large scale here.
This concept has now been implemented at all locations within the wastewater treatment system where there are confined spaces and a risk of falling, says Joop Hoogendijk of Felix Safety, the manufacturer of the Liende concept. “In practical terms, this means that an anchor point is provided at every opening where a cover is removed. At AWS Zwanenburg, anchor points have been installed at all critical locations. During work, a mobile pole (the so-called Liende pole) is placed at these points, to which employees can secure themselves while working.”
The Liende concept was originally developed by the Vallei en Veluwe Water Board, under the leadership of safety expert Harry van der Liende. “Because the system is classified as personal protective equipment (PPE) under the law, it had to meet strict European standards. It is now fully EN-certified and listed in the Occupational Safety and Health Catalog as a recognized control measure against fall hazards,” explains Hoogendijk. Felix Safety has adopted this concept and is responsible for its production, certification, and rollout. “Together with partners such as Mobilis and VOBI Infra, we handle the installation of anchor points, both in new construction—where they are cast into the structure—and in renovation projects, where surface-mounted solutions are often used.”
Felix Safety also provides staff training on the Liende concept. “All AWS Zwanenburg employees have now been trained in the safe use of the concept. We also handle the annual maintenance and inspections, including all associated equipment such as harnesses and fall arresters,” says Hoogendijk, concluding: “As an employer, you must ensure a safe work environment for everyone, both your own employees and external parties. This starts with a thorough risk inventory and evaluation (RI&E), in which risks such as tripping and falling are explicitly identified. Next, it’s important to implement appropriate control measures, such as the Liende concept. The goal: to strive for zero fall incidents.”
