Posted By Brenda H A little while ago I posted about an incident involving a vehicle mounted cherry picker. On the previous post we touched on lone working and basically how it is good practice etc to dual work. I am interested to hear, either through here, or please e-mail me direct, from any of you that work for companies where the decision has been made to dual or lone work and on what basis this decision was made and any supporting evidence. Whilst I know most people were saying dual working is what should happen, I know a lot of companies (well known one's too!), lone work and when you're trying to put a business justification together and use examples on why it should be dual working, it doesn't help that there are so many well known companies that don't. Thanks in advance

Posted By Brenda H Hi Phil, Ok, I know the working at height regulations state about having an emergency plan for the rescue of people from harnesses, but it doesn't say they shan't lone work does it? Or is that an assumption because of the emergency plan bit? Cheers

Posted By RP Lone working with MEWPS should be avoided. 1. Who uses the emergency decent controls if there is a problem? 2. Who keeps others clear of the area whilst work is undertaken overhead? 3. Who would justify using a MEWP as a lone working occupation.

Posted By Brenda H Hi thanks for your responses. A decision regarding lone working or not hasn't been made yet, that's what's in the process of being reviewed. Yes the financial implications versus the controls in place have to be taken into account. For example, what if two people were required to go up in the bucket, would that then require a third person to work from the ground in case something happened to them in the bucket? RP, you say: 3. Who would justify using a MEWP as a lone working occupation. That's what i am trying to establish which is why I am after anyone that has put forward a case for dual working and the evidence/basis they put forward

Posted By james mc brenda the whole point of using the fall restraint is so you cant be catapulted out of the basket. it can be adjusted but only to about 1m to if you wear the fall arrest system this extends to 2m once the energy absorber kicks in which in effect could trap you under the basket. also i was on a course recently and the instructor explained you only have 3 minute`s to be rescued rather than the 12 i had always been told so it would be advisable to have an operative on the ground as part of your rescue plan which you should have in place whenever anyone is using a harness in any task.

Posted By james mc hi brenda due to the restraint being shorter the idea is the operative wont fall out of the basket therefore if the basket hits the ground the operative cant get trapped under it (thats the theory ) not sure if it would be that way in practice.

Posted By David Bramall OK Brenda Why do we call dual working best practice? Suppose you employ a school crossing patrol person - do you need a second person to act as a rescue in case he is run over Suppose you employ a night watchperson - do you need a second one to mind them Suppose you employ a motorcycle courier - do you need another There are lots of things where ideally it would be lovely to have a "mate" to talk to all day but of course it would cost us roughly twice as much to employ everybody. If the "cherry picker" worker might realistically fall out then yes he needs someone to rescue him but why would he be up there in the first place. Should he be reaching too far out of the cage, should he be climbing out of the cage, balancing on the rails of the cage. In my view if he is firmly lodged and doing work within easy reach (the whole idea of using a cherry picker surely!)and not doing live electrical work for example he should not need any rescue plan. Many people argue that the cherry picker operator might take ill, collapse, faint etc but the examples above can also do this so I dont see any difference. I see the important control as something like a short lanyard and full harness to prevent the operator falling out in the first place , - simple, isn't it, taking ill is harder to control. REgards DrB

Posted By Brenda H It's an interesting point David and things I have thought of myself. Clearly our current controls are not sufficient to allow lone working. However, with the correct restraint lanyard, communication, risk assessment and safe working procedure, is there a need for dual working? What happens when two people are required to go up in the bucket, should there be a third person in case something happens?