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Posted By Mark1983
Hi all,
I came across an unsafe working platform the other day which i had never seen before - the worker told me it was called a 'crittle' (not sure if this is spelt correctly) and confessed he shouldn't be using it.
Ive tried doing a search for it on google but come up with nothing.
I can best describe it as a pair of adjustable steel brackets that allow workers to span staging between 2 or more ladders while working on a roof. No edge protection obviously.
Has anyone else come across these & if so can you please give me any more information on them?
Many thanks :)
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Posted By Robert K Lewis
Described in other locations as cripples - a term which has some realistic meanings in the context.
They were widely used pre 1980s for accessing facades/windows etc by painters and were widely regarded as the standard means of access without having to stand on treads for hours on end. You have to climb out around the platform and thus there are intrinsic high risks of falling. There are some modern pre-fabricated alloy equipment that are similar and use a 800mm board with back rails and have seen these used by the UPVc window and soffit etc fraternity. I have not investigated them particularly however, I was told that separate access was required.
Bob
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Posted By Mark1983
Thankyou Bob, i knew this was the right place to come.
Do you know if these 'cripples' were ever officially banned, or did they just become unacceptable along with all other non edge protected access platforms when the construction regs came out?
Thanks again
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Posted By Bob Youel
Years ago they used to use a similar thing in tank farm fabrication where as they progressed upwards the landing [usually a small bit of of cut plate] was tack welded a foot or so above the current work level and people just stepped up to it!
Yes there were many falls and no the 'tacks' were not checked before people stepped up!
The good old days!
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Posted By Robert K Lewis
They went out of use sometime after the practice of putting the apprentice on the outside end of scaffold board placed through the window opening. The window was closed and the apprentice painted the outside while the painter sat on the inside painting the inner timber. The demise of sash windows finally stopped this practice.
It was really the 74 act that was the final nail in the coffin of cripples peer se.
Bob
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Posted By Ron Hunter
I feel I must defend sash-and-case windows Bob.
Nothing wrong with them at all and entirely maintainable and paintable from the inside of the property provided they are maintained and that some cack-handed idiot hasn't painted them shut.
Rather a good sash-and-case than some ridiculous replacement double-glazed out-of-character "picture" window, only inaccessible from inside the building.
(I speak from (DIY) experience)
All that said, I've also seen the apprentice suspended by his ankles - without the luxury of a scaffold board!
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Posted By Crim
This sounds like the equipment double glazing installers use. They have two ladders with a platform between. No fall protection at all although I have once seen what looked like scaffold poles used as edge protection on one occasion.
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Posted By Robert K Lewis
Ron
Nothing against sash windows only the treatment of apprentice painters.
Ah the good old days when society was caring for its weaker members.
Bob
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Posted By Mark1983
Thankyou all,
So one final question that would really help me out: If the HSE caught / was informed about a company still using 'cripples' what would the consequences be? Prohibition notice? on the spot fine?
Thanks in advance
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Posted By Crim
Probably PN possibly IN.
Possibly a meeting with employer for a ticking off and promise of prosecution next time.
I have recent experience of employee given a written warning by HSE Inspector as to future conduct - he was caught on site atop a scaffold tower with no guard rails.
Potential prosecution under WAH regs and Sec 7 HASWA.
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