Welcome to a new episode of I'm The Gaffer 👷
If scaffolding is your default solution for working at height, this episode may change your perspective.
Gavin Coyle sits down with Rob Munns, Head of Sales at BFT Mastclimbing, to explore how mast climbing work platforms can improve safety, productivity, and project costs. With a background outside construction, Rob brings a fresh perspective and challenges long-held assumptions about access solutions on site.
You'll learn:
- What mast climbers are and how they work
- Key safety features and common site mistakes to avoid
- The importance of proper training, certification, and inspections
- Why "buy cheap, get cheap" can be a costly mistake
- The truth about wind limits and other common myths
- How mast climbers reduce labor, improve ergonomics, and increase safety
- Real-world cost comparisons between scaffolding and mast climbers
- The types of projects where mast climbers deliver the biggest benefits
- Rob's thoughts on men's mental health and lessons learned throughout his career
🎯 Highlights / Timestamps
- 00:58 Meet Rob Munns and BFT Mastclimbing
- 02:13 What is a mast climber?
- 09:48 The drop-down flap safety story
- 12:28 Overspeed safety systems explained
- 17:46 Why quality matters in mast climbing
- 18:29 IPAF training and accreditation
- 25:14 Busting the wind myth
- 28:03 A gang of eight vs a gang of two
- 32:07 The economics of mast climbers
- 35:20 Productivity and ergonomic benefits
- 43:06 The only buildings mast climbers can't handle
- 46:33 Men's mental health and career advice
- 48:08 How to connect with Rob and BFT Mastclimbing
Connect with Rob Munns
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/robmunns
BFT Mastclimbing: bftmastclimbing.com
Email: sales@bftmastclimbing.com
About Coyle Group
Coyle Group provides safety outsourcing and managed services for high-impact projects across wind, utilities, power generation, engineering, and construction.
With over 25 years of experience, 100+ safety professionals, and more than 1 million safety hours completed, Coyle Group helps organisations deliver projects safely and compliantly.
Learn more:
https://coyle-group.com/
About the Podcast
I'm The Gaffer, hosted by Gavin Coyle, features conversations with industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and subject matter experts covering construction, engineering, leadership, business growth, safety, procurement, project delivery, and workplace culture.
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https://www.imthegaffer.com
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