Posted By Leslie
Two points.

Firstly I feel it is certain that a rescue plan and suitable controls must be in-place for this type of work, esp where single persons are working in elevated baskets.

Secondly, here in the NE Scotland the HSE is frowning on the use of lifting baskets with FLT arguing that MEWPS are more suitable.

Hope this info is of some help.

Leslie

Posted By Derek Holt
As in the previous thread on MEWP's, an emergency plan is required for all those who work at height. The base for this is dependent upon many aspects such as:

Type of MEWP
Work location
Height
Access restrictions
Competency

Be aware that some self rescue devices/systems are more user friendly than others. There has been cases where the use of such systems has resulted in injury due to the system type, inapropriate application and competency of use.

Posted By Charley Farley-Trelawney
Sean makes a very interesting point, with respect to pulling the MEWP over, I will review my assessments with immediate effect, I must confess to seeing little evidence on manufacturers websites or actual paper instructions, it does however make me think further on current procedures!

Where I am responsible for h&s I end up with at least one MEWP a day working here;booms, cherry’s, scissors etc, I watched one yesterday, 'as you do'..... and the gent was using a MX32, so that gives you an indication of the height, gets up the top, harness is connected, fine so far, stay with me; needs to access a decked area of roof, to replace a temporary barrier with a freestanding counter balance barrier (I like these) then, as close as he can get which was very close, he unclips, climbs out on to the deck area, clips back on to the latchway system and does the work, he did this twice.

I went up another way, and pointed out the error, (he even had twin tail) he could not see the danger of being unclipped even for a few seconds. The company’s MS of course stated he would be attached at ALL times, he had been inducted, PTW issued, and even verbally instructed on site, just goes to show, you can lead em to water but..............

Charles

Posted By Derek Holt
Fall arrest equipment is not generally used with scissor lifts as they are more stable than other MEWP types if correctly positioned on an even surface, therefore the risk of it toppling over or throwing someone out is negligible.

I note Seans mention of inertia reels and MEWP's. I sincererly hope that retractable fall arrest blocks (inertia reels) are not being used in MEWP's. If such a device is attached to the MEWP (certified anchor point) at the same level or lower than the attachment point on the harness then the direction of pull/load and the increased friction of the cable/web running over the top/handrail of the basket drasticaly reduces the ability of the mechanism to lock. In some cases I have found that they do not lock at all. Fixed lanyards of an optimum length with shock absorbers are the most suitable.