Please advise if I'm being too picky here.

We have a requirement to repair an instrument, this involves using a small section of scaffold approx 10 ft in the air.

Under Reg 4 of the WAH regs we have a requirement to ensure that WAH is properly planned including planning for emergencies SFAIRP. The likelihood of someone needing to be rescued is very unlikely but it seems that we need to come up with a rescue plan.

I'm struggling to see a 'common sense' way out of this requirement. Can anyone assist?

I would not disagree with anythingb anyone has said.

To tackle this situation in my humble opinion would be like this.

1. Sop them falling Fall restraint as fall arrest is know good in this situation.

2. Try to ensure it is people who are fit and healthy doing the task.

3. In the unlikely event that someone takes ill who would be getting them down?

4. Have you height rescue medical trained people in the work force? If yes they will have a stretcher and can get the person to ground level for medical attention.

5. As the above is probably unlikley then the most sensiblest way is this.

Go and visit your nearest fire station and explain what you are going to do and when. You have to remember that a bigger emergency would put you as a low priority. As it is only 10 foot any of their ladders would suffice.

You would have to be prepared to carry out whatever steps were necessary to look after the ill person until emergency personel arrive.

Without training staff in working at height rescue and being medically trained the above option is the best.

A common sense approach is required and if you have notified the emergency services it is a better and more recognised method than trying to train your own workforce. 

Hope this helps and yes there will be other possibly better ideas. Have a MEWP ,Cherry picker on standby Crane with man riding basket but these are taking it to the extreme.

Ta Alex

Originally Posted by: firesafety101

My first thought was to hire a MEWP for potential rescue then I thought can you do the repair from a MEWP. Two birds with one stone. Any problems while inside the cage can be lowered to ground level using the hydraulics. Save on the scaffold cost and you can remove the MEWP when the job is finished instead of waiting for the scaffolders to return, which in itself is work at height requiring rescue plan.

This is the one.... cheaper than scaffold.... lower risk for both set up and break down. rescuse plan included.