Case Study: Apex Contracting Solutions at Ellison Institute

By utilising trusted hire partner MEP Hire’s track record for innovation, site safety has been elevated at the development of a new research centre…

Principle contractor Laing O’Rourke are currently leading the construction and delivery of the Ellison Institute project in Oxford. This landmark research and innovation development centre will incorporate laboratories, research spaces, office and collaboration areas.

The project requires a high level of precision, programme control, and coordination across multiple disciplines to meet stringent quality, safety, and compliance standards typical of a world-class research environment.

Working with electrical contractors, Apex Contracting Solutions, it soon became apparent that the existing method of working at height presented significant ergonomic and safety risks.

The challenge being that operators were routinely placing tools onto the deck of Low Level Access machines, including scissor lifts. This not only created manual handling issues, through repeated straining to reach tools, but also led to the risk of dropped objects injuring both users of the machine, as well as those that might be working below.

With a clear need for a safer, more efficient way to tether tools to the access machine, MEP Hire jumped into action to deliver a solution that would address both issues.

As Apex’s preferred access solution was the Power Tower from JLG, MEP Hire worked with trusted safety experts Safe MEWP to design and deliver an innovative Tool Tray that could be fitted directly to the tower.

A purpose-designed Power Tower Tool Tray system was installed onto the Push Around Vertical (PAV) platform lift, providing a secure, dedicated storage solution at height. The tray is mounted directly to the lift structure, creating an easily accessible workstation where operatives can store and organise their tools within arm’s reach, without having to bend down or step across the platform deck.

The Tool Tray is engineered to safely hold up to 25kg, accommodating a typical range of hand tools and equipment used during elevated works. It also features four integrated tether anchor points, each independently rated to hold up to 5kg. This allows operatives to tether individual tools directly to the tray rather than to themselves, eliminating manoeuvrability issues.

Ben Hopkins, Project Manager at Apex Contracting Solutions said, “we are really impressed with the Safe Working Load the Tool Tray offers. It gives us confidence that it can genuinely support the tools our operatives need at height. The integrated tether points are a big advantage for us as well, making it quick and easy to secure tools without restricting movement. The fact that it’s made from steel gives reassurance around durability and longevity on-site too.”

The installation requires no modifications to the scissor lift’s primary structure and is compatible with standard site operations, allowing for rapid deployment and improved productivity. The Tool Tray is UKCA approved, demonstrating compliance with relevant UK safety and performance requirements for equipment used whilst working at height.

Pete McNeil, Head of Product at MEP Hire added, “The Power Tower Tool Tray is another demonstration of MEP Hire’s ability to act quickly on the needs of a specific contractor and/or site to deliver equipment that provides heightened safety in use, while improving efficiency. This is truly what sets MEP Hire apart from its competitors - our ability to understand a safety challenge, and deliver a targeted solution to address that, quickly, without a loss of productivity.”

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