Mast Climbers Beat Scaffolding | Rob Munns (BFT Mastclimbing)

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. Listen on: Apple Podcasts https://bit.ly/ImTheGaffer Spotify https://bit.ly/ImTheGafferSpotify YouTube    / @imthegafferpodcast   Website https://www.imthegaffer.com Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, construction, business growth, workplace culture, employee engagement, engineering, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship.