LOL.. Love your description Lisa!

In my opinion, for what it's worth, this is going to be a high risk activity just on the basis of how often it is going to happen. Let alone anything else.

As far as the ladder casing / cage system is concerned I am sure I read somewhere only recently that these systems do not count in anyway towards controlling the risk.
In fact depending on how far apart the bars are they can increase the danger.
I would be looking for an engineering solution, coupled with personal fall arrest equipment and training in height awareness and safety for those tasked with the maintenance.

This company , http://www.latchways.com/home, can supply lots of different solutions.

However, is there NO way the task can be avoided? Remote sampling or monitoring equipment at ground level?

But it also says that if you have a fall arrest system installed, don't stop using it.

I've been through this recently, trying to actually find out what you're supposed to be doing if a staircase doesn't fit, but found the guidance to be full of if and maybes but remarkably empty of actual useful guidance.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/sa...letins/hoopedladders.htm

I'm struggling to understand why someone has to climb a tower every week.

Hi Lisa

As you have probably already thought, would be better to avoid need to go up in first place. I am assuming there is a reason or valve etc that must be inspected.

How high are these ladders?

There are several suppliers of systems that may be interest to you,

http://www.scorpio-safety.co.uk/vertical.php

May need to copy and paste the link.

MAT

Just a reminder that when you risk assess U should also address the persons undertaking the work at the same time as its no use putting a person who is afraid of heights on a high job inclusive of a person who is trying to facilitate the risk asseessent for that job as if the facilitator does not like heights how can they fully facilitate that risk assessment?

Inclined to agree with you Clairel.

It's not neccessary to actually ' do ' a task to RA it.

I bet you could produce a fairly effective RA for firefighting sat at your desk without having to go and fight a fire?
The OP could write the RA and have someone who is happy to go up heights, or better still the staff member who will have to do the task regularly, to check it for gaps and suitability.

And I knew I had read something about the ladder 'hoops' but couldn't remember the details!

The research report re ladder hoops can be found here:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr258.pdf

That said our sites have ladder hoops present, they were provided during installation (before my time). Interestingly, speaking with one of our roofing contractors when I spoke with him re the research report, he was strongly of the opinion that they are a benefit, if correctly installed, in that they can provide respite if required.

In any case, to provide a different view, we have above-ground sprinkler tanks at 2 of our sites, though these are not that high (maybe 6m) and not routinely accessed (only during contractor service which will either be 6 monthly or annual).

Hoop guards are installed but that's it. We don't feel it's reasonably practicable to remove the ladders and install new with fall protection devices attached, and they are not that long, therefore we have left as is, without issue (from users or EHOs that will have seen them during H&S inspections).

If our cat ladders had to be used more frequently we may come to a different conclusion though.