Welcome Guest! The IOSH forums are a free resource to both members and non-members. Login or register to use them

Postings made by forum users are personal opinions. IOSH is not responsible for the content or accuracy of any of the information contained in forum postings. Please carefully consider any advice you receive.

Notification

Icon
Error
Climbing verital ladders and using harnesses
Options
Go to last post Go to first unread
Previous Topic Next Topic
Evans38004  
#1 Posted : 15 May 2013 10:13:47(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Evans38004
We have a number of fixed vertical ladders around our workplace ranging from 3m to 20m in height. Above 2.5m there are hooped cages (right term?!?!)

The company had adopted a policy, before I arrived, that whenever you climb these ladders, you must wear a body harness & short fixed lanyard - which you clip onto every rung as you climb a rung.

Does anyone know where this "best practice" has come from? - the guys tell me that this is the policy & this is how they were trained. Most see it as an overkill & delaying procedure.
Back to top
nickygee  
#2 Posted : 15 May 2013 10:35:42(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
nickygee
Hi Evans,
I think the term you're looking for is 'backscratcher'. I would suggest if they have to hook on each rung they should have double leg lanyards so they can hook on before hooking off, but this is not good practice as it means taking hand off the rung to do so. Look into getting a 'lad safe' system in place, where you hook on to a cable or rail which runs the length of the ladder with a carabina attached to the harness. It stops you falling any distance if you lose your footing, it only has a few inches of play in it and it saves time as you simply hook on at the bottom and hook off at the top. Hope that makes sense
Back to top
edwardh  
#3 Posted : 15 May 2013 13:20:12(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
edwardh
Before going down the fall arrest route, you might want to consider the following HSE safety alert -

"Hooped ladders and the use of personal fall-arrest systems"
http://www.hse.gov.uk/sa...letins/hoopedladders.htm

There are also links to further reading.
Back to top
achrn  
#4 Posted : 15 May 2013 14:09:47(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
achrn

I wouldn't clip to every rung, and I've never seen anyone going up a ladder doing it.

What to do about fall arrest on ladders is a mess at the moment - the standards and guidance is contradictory in multiple ways, and basically you'll be in the wrong whatever you do. See the recent thread http://forum.iosh.co.uk/...spx?g=posts&t=109007
Back to top
PH2  
#5 Posted : 15 May 2013 15:22:47(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
PH2
Hi,
I previously worked for a large organisation that had numerous vertical ladders (external) on multiple sites. They decided to use the "Railok" fixed bar system. It was easily retro fitted to the ladders and was used in combination with a fall arrest body harness and shock absorbing lanyard. They considered other types / systems, but these generally had higher installation and ongoing testing / inspection / maintenance costs. The employees took little persuading to use the system (especially on ladders greater than about 3m).

I have no association with his company: other manufacturers / suppliers are available.

PH2
Back to top
jarsmith83  
#6 Posted : 15 May 2013 16:22:09(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
jarsmith83
achrn wrote:

I wouldn't clip to every rung, and I've never seen anyone going up a ladder doing it.

What to do about fall arrest on ladders is a mess at the moment - the standards and guidance is contradictory in multiple ways, and basically you'll be in the wrong whatever you do. See the recent thread http://forum.iosh.co.uk/...spx?g=posts&t=109007


Agree, how would you guarantee the integrity of each hoop: Are the hoops man enough to take the weight of a person?
Back to top
AnneMallory  
#7 Posted : 15 May 2013 16:32:05(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
AnneMallory
Perhaps IOSH could raise this as an issue on our behalf?
Back to top
ivorheadache  
#8 Posted : 15 May 2013 17:25:21(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
ivorheadache
We had fixed ladders in my old workplace up to 7m. The solution was simple. An intertia block (similar to a car seat belt) at the top of the ladder which you fixed to the front ring on your harness. It retracted as you climbed would lock with a sudden movement downwards.

They used 'duel leg' lanyards when moving horizontally (erecting racking).

I haven't looked at the regs on this, just thought it may be food for thought.
Back to top
achrn  
#9 Posted : 16 May 2013 11:33:48(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
achrn
ivorheadache wrote:
We had fixed ladders in my old workplace up to 7m. The solution was simple. An intertia block (similar to a car seat belt) at the top of the ladder which you fixed to the front ring on your harness. It retracted as you climbed would lock with a sudden movement downwards.


It might be simple, but it doesn't meet the BS EN ISO quoted. Cages are preferred over anything an operator clips to - "The safety cage shall be the preferred option because it is always present and the actual safety function is independent of the operator’s actions." Of course, that contradicts HSE's report, which is one of the ways in which the whole area is a mess.
Back to top
Users browsing this topic
Guest
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.

Powered by YAF.NET | YAF.NET © 2003-2025, Yet Another Forum.NET