Eye in the sky will enhance safety for Norbord

Norbord’s factory in South Molton is beginning to use video drone technology to help identify and reduce the risk of working at heights.

The idea came from Maria Collett, Norbord’s Health and Safety Manager, after a conversation with her maintenance-savvy husband who used a video drone to inspect his school’s roof.

Instead of setting up scaffolding to access high-level areas and putting the maintenance crews at risk, Norbord is planning to fly a video drone over the area and carry out inspections. Any issues identified will be actioned in planned shutdowns.

Project Manager Justin Smyth is undertaking Civil Aviation Authority training together with a colleague so he will be authorised to fly the craft safely around the site.