Rank: Guest 
|
Posted By Sharon
Can anyone point me in the right direction.........
I need to find out any info on what types of ladders are used for what type of job.
Thanks
Sharon
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Ian Bennett
I found what you wanted at B&Q, they have a good range of leaflets that are quite informative.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Robert K Lewis
My answer I am afraid is as few as possible for as few jobs as possible. I prefer to eliminate the use altogether if I can. There are now such a wide range of fold up towers such as the Roomate from SGB and other equivalents that I prefer only to see ladders in very restricted, some would say badly designed, workplaces
Bob
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Chris Abbott
Good call Bob.
I'm looking for an alternative for my cleaning company. Caught them this morning running a 20'+ Aluminium ladder up to the second floor, in the wind - with no one at the bottom - trying to clean my windows… (Yes… with bucket, sponge, bla bla)
Apparently he had been told that if he "stuck the bottom in the mud" it would suffice....
>:(
Chris
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Kelvin George
Sharon
Ladders are for access only - never use one as a work platform because it isn't one. And I would not suggest buying them from B&Q either if you're going to use them as work equipment.
Check CDM regs.
Cheers Kelvin
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Alan Barthrope
Risk assessment, Risk assessment,Risk assessment, Risk assessment, Risk assessment, Risk assessment, Risk assessment, Risk assessment, Risk assessment, Risk assessment, Risk assessment, Risk assessment, Risk assessment, Risk assessment, Risk assessment, but also look at the forthcoming Work at height Regs.
Regards,
Alan B
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Ron Young
Alan,
Unless you knew the answer to Sharons question, a risk assessment would be as useful as a chocolate ashtray.... She is doing the correct thing by asking questions in order for her to start the RA process.
We hear far too often the response of "your risk assessment will identify what needs to be done". Only a competent RA with competent input would identify what she needs to know. So why not help her...
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Gary May
Sharon - please dont be put off when asking questions - the majority of advice given is quite good especially when it is clarifed by others.
You will find in the market place different ladders - avoid wooden ladders and try to encourage the use of aluminium - you will need to train your staff in the use and then have an ispection system in place for the ladder, which is used as a means of access.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Bryan Weatherill
Further to inspection of ladders - on a regular basis - make sure that they are marked permanently with a discrete number and keep the records
Good luck
Bryan
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Ron Young
Sharon,
As a qualifier to Gary's comments, never use aluminium ladders on electrical work.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Jason Gould
From what I can remember ladders come with British standard numbers, so maybe BS can help.
I may be wrong but certain numbers were suitable for certain environments.
This may of course be about as usefull as an ashtray on a motorbike.
Good luck with your task Sharon :)
Jason
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Hilary Charlton
Hiya, have a look at:
BS 1129:1982 'Specificationfo portable timber ladders, steps, trestles and lightweight stagings' is probably the document you need to be able to ascertain which ladders are required for what jobs.
I concur that aluminium ladders should not be used for electrical work, but you should also be careful with wooden ladders as some of these have steel reinforcement depending on class (See Bs 1129:1982).
We use fibreglass ladders for electrical work here which I think you will find are quite handy and reasonably priced.
Hope this helps.
Hilary
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Steve Langston
You may also wish to know that ladders are classified into types. If you look for example at the picture on the side of any new ladder you will see the specification for it i.e. for domestic use, for light industial use etc.
However, I agree limit the use of ladders as much as possible as they should only be used for short duration, infrequent work.
Hope it helps
Steve
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By John Caboche
Sharon,
I have emailed you directly with our company guidance on ladders and tower scaffolds.
After consultation with a friend who regularly speaks to HSE inspectors, they (the inspectors) have now been instructed that any activity over 15 minutes duration on a ladder counts as a workplace and requires a working platform, anything less than 15 minutes and you have a "reasonably practicable" get out, ie changing a lightbulb off a stepladder, ok, painting a wall, not ok,hope this helps
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Sharon
Thanks all and John,
John the information you have given me is very useful...............................
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Robert K Lewis
John
I'm sure the HSE would also have said "provided there are always three points of contact"! This means one hand only may be used unless a harness fix is also available. The problem with this 15 minute is that it does not reduce the risk level of the task and the inspectors I speak to are actually loath to be so specific as it is very much task related.
Bob
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By John Caboche
Robert, I am in total agreement, I was attempting to give Sharon the "heads up" on general guidelines the HSE have been issued with regarding use of ladders for work tasks, there are many more factors to be considered besides 3 points of contact although that is a good starting point, such as footing of the ladder, internal or external use, nature of task, ground conditions etc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Geoff Burt
Hard to imagine the window cleaner pushing a tower scaffold around a housing estate!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Ron Young
Agree Geoff, but he could use a cherry picker
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Robert K Lewis
Or a pole!!
Bob
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By allan wood
i used to be a painter before i moved into health and safety and came across situations where the firm i worked for would have you working off ladders even when other means of access could have been used, this was solely down to cost reduction
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Ken Taylor
See Construction Site Safety Note GE700/7 'Ladders, Steps and Lightweight Staging' from the Construction Industry Training Board.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.