Rank: New forum user 
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Ive never seen a upvc window fitter using any form of fall arrest equipment when leaning out of an upstairs window to seal round it or apply render. If they fell however, there would be obvious liability against the employer in respect of a failure to comply with requirements of work at height. If the window company fitted scaffolding every time, they'd be compliant alright but would also lose most of their work for being too expensive. Has anyone any suggestions for either avoiding the need to work at height altogether or providing some form of fall arrest that doesn't involve wrenching the customers taps off in the event of a fall? Glass and Glazing Federation CofP is not much help in this regard.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Final caulking of replacement windows and render patching to houses is no more hazardous, complex or time consuming IMHO than window cleaning, and I suggest ladder use would be appropriate. Real issues arise with maisonettes and high rise.
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Rank: New forum user
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Cheers Ron, you're right and they do use ladders where access is straight forward. The issue arises when, for example, theyre working above a porch or on a first floor bay where they physically can't get the ladder in. Guidance is always to fit from the inside but as I say, this involves at some point, leaning out to seal the frame.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Collins
Has been done using fall prevention (as against arrest) PPE attached to a suitable anchorage within the building which could be of the portable variety illustrated in HSE guidance book HSG33 (which can be freely downloaded from HSE website).
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Rank: Super forum user
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I would have thought as a last resort to consider fall restraint before fall arrest... also depending how far and how much of the body is required to be 'leaning out'?
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Rank: New forum user
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Cheers Pete... we did suggest a 'man anchor' but having never seen them used in this industry wanted to see if anyone was familiar with alternatives before formally recommending that. Thanks, I have a copy of HSG33, I'll take a look.
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Rank: New forum user
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MB - they dont lean far .. but far enough that they could fall and this is just it, with the commercial impracticality of scaffolding (i.e. they would lose most of their work) and the apparent tolerance by HSE and the trade bodies of an unsafe practice (i.e. leaning out) we are in 'last resort' territory so I wanted to be absolutely sure there wasn't some better alternative to fall arrest that I wasn't aware of. Appears not though, so thanks all for taking the time to comment. Bill
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Rank: New forum user
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There is some very neat kit by a company called Easidec, from bedfordshire that might help.
HSE approved ladder baskets and extentions etc. Might be worth a look.
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Rank: New forum user
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Cheers Thoday, they did buy an easydeck as it happens and it has improved things, although they're having some issues with getting it used by the fitters, which is an HR issue (!!). In some cases however, even that is no good which is where they'll lean out. You have to have sympathy with our clients, they do RAs on every job, are trying to improve voluntarily and are willing to spend if there's a real benefit. Nice when you get an MD who's geniunly concerned about his staff and backs it up with actions.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Rank: New forum user
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Chas...re-sult! This we like!! Cheers!!
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Rank: Super forum user
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Providing you don't drop it...............I was going to suggest easi-dec, and like you I've experienced problems with culture change. Be aware that HSE have issued PNs for tradesmen standing on porch roofs!
I do like the look of the safety rack though CHAS, and I've described this as a possible approach to others in the past, but had not until now seen one on the market. Thanks for the link.
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Rank: Super forum user
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You will probably go "Oh yeah!!" but I was thinking of something similar to what Chas posted.
One acro prop horizontally and internally from one side of the opening to the other which you could clip a harness on to?
May need to test it first at low level though!
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Rank: Forum user
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Collins
I have worked for many years in this industry mainly on the manufacturing side and this has always been a problem area which has never been fully resolved. There was an article not long ago where a window fitter fell through the opening which he was trying to fit a new window to and tragically died.
The risks are increased when the window is externally glazed as because of the unit size most fitters walk up the ladders with them on their shoulders and we are talking large units. I have also never yet seen a fitter cordon off a door way when removing or fitting a new window above a porch roof, or rear door when the house is occupied!
The only thing I have seen is a doorway bracket anchor point which looked easy to fit and did no damage to the internal decorations, sorry don't know the name though.
MG
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