Rank: New forum user 
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At the risk of asking a daft question, I have been carrying out a work at height RA in our new building. We have an extremely large and heavy board room table with lights above. I have found out that the lights are being changed by staff standing on the table as moving it brings its own problems. My question is would this be deemed safe as it has a large surface area and is stable or would I need to look at purchasing some type of platform ladder that would go over the table width.
This same question applies to some of the office floors where the lights are above pods of desks and the desks cannot be moved.
Can anyone recommend a good supplier of this type of equipment.
Thanks
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Rank: Super forum user 
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scotsgirl, the risks in this activity appears to arise
during climbing on and off the tables/desks (via a swivel chair?) and also if stretching to reach a light fitting that may be slightly out of lateral reach. You should be able to make a judgement on whether the access is adequate and whether there is any exposure to falling off the desk during stretching or reaching. Also bear in mind the frequency of the exposure when reaching your judgement.
It may well be the case that moving the desks/table creates a greater exposure to harm than the WAH exposure. I have of course assumed that electrical safety is very well controlled!
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Rank: Super forum user
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May be worth Googling 'span access platforms'. They appear to offer the type of access you are asking about.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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The boardroom table is probably robust enough to withstand a person's weight. Therefore the only real issue is gaining access to it, which could be done with a small podium or similar. A similar process could be employed for other desks, but this would depend on the robustness and stability of the desks and also the dexterity of the person doing the task.
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Rank: Super forum user
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My thought's are you won't have a problem standing on the table (subject to safely gaining access) but what if one of the bulbs that need to be changed is close to the edge of the table and a person fell from that position, landing on their neck sustaining substantial injuries?
Definite breach of the Work @ Height regs.
How about implementing a 2nd person rule to 'stabilise' the person stood at or near the edge of the table?
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Rank: Forum user
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how about the risks of scratching the table?
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Rank: Super forum user
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A design problem regarding the maintenance of the lighting. Can this be changed in order to ease maintenance? Is it possible to change the room layout?
If the table in 'unmovable' and is stable and the light fitting can be accessed in safety from the table then no real problem provided that getting on and off the table is within reason... reason being the key word here. I see no real-world problem here. Let good judgment prevail.
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Rank: Super forum user
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frankc wrote:
How about implementing a 2nd person rule to 'stabilise' the person stood at or near the edge of the table?
Is that a control measure
How about getting a stepladder to replace the bulbs around the edge of the table and those that can be accessed form the table safely can then be replaced safely.
As for changing the layout of the room so the lighting isn't above the table. where do you think lighting should be if not above the working surface.
Phil
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Rank: Super forum user
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As long as access on to the table is by means of a suitable means (defintely not a swivel chair, but a small step stool or similar should suffice) ,it can bear the weight and one does not have to over-reach, it should be OK. It is a good stable surface--OK no edge protection, but as described by you, it appears that it is most unlikely that the changing of bulbs near the edges of the table. We sometimes concentrate too much on "equipment" for simple tasks. Yes, in future when you refurbish etc, consider the options that will make maintainenece simpler.
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Rank: Super forum user
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PhilBeale wrote:frankc wrote:
How about implementing a 2nd person rule to 'stabilise' the person stood at or near the edge of the table?
Is that a control measure
It could be, in the same way you could get a 2nd person to 'foot' a ladder for you.
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Rank: Super forum user
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mmm there is no reason to have lighting in a position that makes maintenance a joke. Design. As long as there is the correct amount of light falling on the work surface it does not matter a jot where the sourse of the light is. Design. And, for a giggle here...this is just the sort of thing that make a mockery out of Health and Safety...stand on the table if it's stable and change the lamp.... beteer still, call in an electrician.
Simple.
Zimmy, with a little smile.
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Rank: Super forum user
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In your post you say that it is a new building. Is that a new build or is it an office which you have moved into? If it is a new building what has the designers said about maintaining the lighting system? I would have thought that such issues as maintenenace of internal light fittings would have been considered at the design stage, well thay should have been anyway. Is there any set down process for maintenance of the lights you may be unaware of? Generally speaking you may not need to buy in specialist equipment as bulbs don't need changing that often and a simple system of gaining access can be very easily developed or get a specialist firm in to do it for you. Try and keep things simple as that is generally the best way.
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Rank: Forum user 
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scotsgirl,
As long as you can demonstrate you have risk assessed the task to be completed , and you can also demonstrate you have done what is SFARP , and in the worse case you can stand up in court and defend your decision you will not go far wrong . As I have had to give evidence in courtin the past (and boy did that woman laywer give me sa hard time ) I allways look at worse case and as as long as i can defend my decision in court then i belive i have done what is SFARP
chris
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