Water sampling is a fundamental part of protecting public health by monitoring drinking water quality across the UK. To meet regulatory requirements under Regulations 8, 9 and 10 supplied by the Drinking Water Inspectorate, local authorities and private water companies must carry out accurate and frequent sampling activities – to detect bacteria such as E. Coli and coliforms, and to check indicators such as turbidity, conductivity, and heavy metal content.
The science and requirements of water sampling are well-established, but the practical realities of accessing water sources have historically been overlooked. As a result, water sampling teams often have to navigate tricky terrain without adequate protection:
- Steep or slippery banks at rivers, reservoirs, and culverts
- Remote or uneven ground near boreholes or treatment plants
- Wet and muddy conditions that increase the risk of slips, trips, and falls
The UK’s HSE reported over 19,000 non-fatal workplace injuries caused by slips, trips, and falls in 2023/24; with water sampling teams working in these tricky environments, they face an increased risk - not only from workplace injuries, but also from the associated delays and financial cost from Lost Time Incidents (LTIs) that happen because of them.
This is exactly why the Rollaway rubber stairs were created: to provide teams working outdoors with the appropriate equipment for fast, safe, simple access when they need it most.
How the Rollaway Rubber Stairs Provide Safer Access for Water Sampling Teams
1. Safer Access in Seconds
The Rollaway can be deployed in just a matter of seconds to create a secure, anti-slip path down banks, slopes and uneven terrain. For water sampling teams, this means there’s no need to slide down banks or make do with just a sturdy pair of boots. It’s also ideal as water sampling often needs to be carried out at multiple points and repeated throughout the year, so the Rollaway’s portability ensures staff can descend safely while reducing the risk of injury throughout their day as they move from site to site.
2. Lightweight & Portable
Water sampling teams typically carry testing kits, bottles, and meters with them. Adding bulky access equipment isn’t practical, and neither is trying to make do with nothing to carry all this equipment down the bank! The Rollaway rubber stairs are lightweight, compact, and can be carried and deployed by a single person, making them an ideal solution for water sampling teams who are frequently on the move.
3. Built for Harsh Conditions
The Rollaway is built with durability in mind. Made from tough grip top rubber matting, extruded EPDM rubber treads and stainless steel fittings, the Rollaway withstands waterlogged, muddy, stony and icy environments. Its strength and durability ensure it performs consistently across the seasons and multiple different types of terrain that water sampling teams are likely to encounter, helping to reduce downtime due to unsafe ground conditions.
4. Supports Regulatory Compliance
Regulatory frameworks supplied by the Drinking Water Inspectorate for water quality monitoring require that samples are taken accurately and reliably – Group A and Group B parameters under Regulation 9, for example. Unsafe or hard-to-reach sites could compromise the quality of samples or cause delays with collection. Using the Rollaway, however, water sampling teams can access required points safely and consistently, helping authorities meet their targets.
5. Cost-effective & Efficient
By reducing accidents, delays and the need for makeshift - or a complete lack of - access solutions, the Rollaway helps water authorities and contractors save time and money. For large-scale projects like the Strategic Pipeline Alliance, it has already proven its value by helping keep teams safe and projects on schedule.
Find out how it works and watch our demonstration video.
Trusted by National Water Companies in the UK
Anglian Water, one of the UK’s largest water companies, has already adopted the Rollaway for major infrastructure projects. Their teams praised its portability, safety and speed of deployment, ordering additional units after first-hand experience in the field.
Whether used for routine monitoring or complex infrastructure projects, the Rollaway rubber stairs ensure water sampling teams can focus on what matters most: collecting accurate, reliable samples that protect public health.
Get Safer Access in Seconds
Water sampling is about safeguarding communities, but the safety of the teams conducting it is equally important. With the Rollaway, water companies and contractors gain a proven, practical solution to one of their toughest challenges: accessing water sources safely, under a wide range of adverse conditions.
Getting safer access in seconds with the Rollaway means better sampling for you and your team. And better sampling means better water safety for everyone.
Get in touch today to learn more and order your demo.