Posted By Malcolm Hogarth
Here is a really meaty one for everybody out there.

We have been approached by the local sea cadets with a request to assist them in replacing a quayside access ladder from a pontoon.

I have absolutely no experience of this sort of thing and in my opinion the hazards are far too significant to want to get involved. In fact I do not want to touch it with a barge pole. (pun intended)

I have considered a number of aspects including working at height, water hazards - temperature, tides and biological etc - and slipping and tripping. Control measures would include informing the the local river patrol of the work, working at low tide, having an adjacent boat with a safety person (from the sea cadets),laying a non slip surface to the pontoon, provision of appropriate harnesses, bouyancy aids etc.

The ladder has been provided by the sea cadets and I have yet to check it's conformity.

I wouldnt even know where to start with a safe system of work for this project and I wonder if I could seek your wisdom and experience in finding a solution.

I do not want to disappoint the sea cadets but the interests of the health and safety of my participants must be my priority.

HELP

kind regards,

Malcolm