Afternoon All,

I've been asked for my opinion on a way of working which my gut tells me isn't right, but when we actually sit down and think about it I can't actually say why not.

We have a high ceiling metal fabrication workshop with two large overhead cranes each spanning half the building. One of the lights up in the ceiling needs replacing so the following has been proposed.

Fashion a saddle to fit across the top of the two girders that make up the crane (ignore the fact that this would be a 'home-made' solution, I know its not ideal but we're quite good at this kind of thing so it doesn't worry me from the 'moral' side of safety).

Move the crane so its butting up to an internal roof from which it can be easily accessed.

Put the saddle on the crane, get on the saddle and attach to the girder with a suitable harness.

move the crane into position, carry out the work and reverse.

There is nothing that could be caught in the mechanism of the crane, no-one would work anywhere in the vicinity during the work and everyone involved is trained and competent in the use of harnesses and cranes etc.

The alternative would be a MEWP which whilst possible would take masses of work moving things around to get access, which in itself wouldn't be risk free.

All thoughts would be welcomed.

thanks.
Steve

Hi there, I was thinking the saddle would be placed across the crane beams from the same point as which you'd access it - but having thought about it some more and 'walked through' there would be the time just before you clipped on in which the operative would be very vulnerable to a fall.

I think gut was right, not the right thing to do at all and we should get a cherry picker in even if it does involve more work moving things around to get access.

thanks for taking the time to comment Stonecold, much appreciated.