Written and provided by FTMA Principal Partner, MiTek.
In an increasingly competitive construction industry, fabricators are under pressure to innovate, boost efficiency and ensure the highest standards of safety. One way to achieve these goals is by leveraging MiTek Posi-Strut cassettes—a solution that not only addresses safety concerns but also brings tangible operational benefits to job sites. These cassettes also continue to expand offsite manufacturing.
At the forefront of adopting this innovation is Oxley Frame & Truss, led by Director Daryl Prothero. With firsthand experience in the industry’s safety risks, Daryl understands the critical importance of keeping workers safe while maintaining project efficiency. He describes how Posi-Strut cassettes have been a positive change for his team, both on and off the job site.
A Focus on Safety
When it comes to safety, Posi-Strut cassettes provide a key advantage by significantly reducing the need for working at heights. By enabling floors and trusses to be pre-assembled at ground level, they minimise the risks associated with traditional on-site construction methods.
“We’re all about safety,” Daryl says. “With Posi-Strut cassettes, no one is working at heights, which greatly reduces the risk of falls. Everything is installed on the ground, making it safer and quicker. As someone who’s fallen through a floor system before, I understand how dangerous it can be. With these cassettes, that risk is essentially eliminated.”
Daryl’s personal experience underscores a broader industry concern – workplace injuries, particularly those caused by falls from heights, an injury class that is singled out by State Work Safety Regulators for its own focus. By integrating Posi-Strut cassettes into the building process, fabricators can mitigate these hazards, promoting a safer, more secure work environment.
Speed and Efficiency
Beyond safety, MiTek Posi-Strut cassettes offer significant gains in speed and efficiency. The pre-assembly process not only eliminates the need for multiple trades working on-site simultaneously but also ensures precise and controlled installations. According to Daryl, this method has reduced project times considerably.
“The whole frame, floor cassettes, upper frame and roof trusses were completed in about two weeks,” he explains. “Normally, that would take three to four weeks minimum. So we effectively halved the project time, which is a massive win for us.”
This reduction in labour and time has a ripple effect on the rest of the project. Tradespeople are able to move on to the next job sooner and overall site productivity improves. As Daryl puts it, “The workload was minimal compared to what it would have been using traditional methods. The time saved allowed tradespeople to focus on other tasks, ultimately increasing the speed of the entire build.”
Cleaner and Safer Sites
An often-overlooked benefit of using Posi-Strut cassettes is the reduction of on-site waste and the subsequent improvements in site cleanliness and safety. Since the cassettes are pre-assembled and come with all necessary components, there’s no risk of missing materials or wasted resources. This translates to a cleaner, more organised job site.
“A cleaner site is a safer site,” Daryl points out. “There’s no messy hangers or flooring sheets and no need for excess bins for waste. Everything is pre-done, so there’s less clutter, which not only speeds up the build but also makes the site much safer.”
An Industry Shift Towards Safer Solutions
Daryl sees a future where solutions like MiTek Posi-Strut cassettes become the standard in the industry. “I believe that as the industry sees the benefits of this method, it will eventually become more widespread,” he says. “We’re already eliminating a major hazard—falls from heights—so I think there’s a real opportunity for the industry to adopt this on a larger scale.”
The transition to Posi-Strut cassettes is about more than just innovation—it’s about creating a safer, more efficient construction environment. From saving time and reducing labour to improving site safety and cleanliness, this method offers multiple benefits that can help fabricators like Oxley Frame & Truss stay ahead of the curve.
For fabricators looking to increase efficiency, reduce on-site risks and keep up with industry demands, the message is clear: MiTek Posi-Strut cassettes are a solution worth considering.
As Daryl suggests, “If we can eliminate the risk of falls and make builds faster and safer, it’s a big win for the industry.”
By sharing Daryl Prothero’s experience, it’s evident that MiTek Posi-Strut cassettes not only offer safety benefits but also deliver on key business needs like speed, efficiency and cost-effectiveness. It’s a method designed to meet the challenges of today’s market head-on while ensuring a safer future for workers.
Find out more – www.mitek.com.au
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