Posted By Phil Merrison I am currently compiling a safety standard for working at height on a large top tier COMAH site. One of the questions being raised is at what wind speed should work be suspended. The complexity of different types of work at height covers but is not confined to the following. General access around fixed working platforms, work with cranes, work on MEWPS, general access around storage tanks, work from suspended cradles etc. Whilst it may be down to individual equipment manufacturers to specify safe wind speeds is anybody out there aware of any specific safe wind speed regulations/guidance or alternatively what are your companies guidelines on the subject? any assistance will be gratefully received.

Posted By Ron Hunter This publication lays down the conditions under which various construction & maintenance tasks are no longer practicable or possible from the point of view of complying with current safety standards - it might translate into your line of work? "The National Federation of Roofing Contractors Ltd -Roofing and Cladding in windy conditions" (4th Edition)

Posted By Grahm Fox I work for a roofing company, the guidance we use was sourced from the federation of roofers. Note there are different wind speeds at which we would not work @ height, dependent upon the type of roofing activity being performed. Our upper limit is an average wind speed of 23mph. Be careful of weather forecasts as these tend to be for ground level, as you get higher wind speed increases, at best use them as an indicator only. Also note that local environments affect speeds, funneling etc. We supply our roofing gangs with wind speed gauges we sourced from a water-sports supplier. They are portable, reasonably priced, small enough to carry in a pocket and have proved to be reliable.