Hi All,

I work for a social housing organisation and we are currently writing alot of procedures and risk assessment work for our frontline trade staff.

I have 2 issues that i wonder if anyone could please give their advice on:

1. Roof ladders - Currently some of our colleagues complete roof ladder work, and my understanding is that a minimum requirement for this type of work is a properly secured ladder and edge protection on the roof. My question is that if this is only for short duration work (changing a tile), is edge protection still required, and also is their a requirement for a harness to be worn by the operator (as moving from 1 ladder to a roof ladder inherits a risk they may fall)?. We have looked at alternatives e,g, cherry picker, propriatary staging, although this seems to upset the balance for short duration work (anything significant would require scaffolding). Does anyone currently complete this sort of work and if so what SSOW do you follow?

2. Low voltage cables running into properties - Our procedure states that no operative must work within 6m of an overhead cable but in terms of low level cables into the properties, how to companys manage this to, for example; change a tile? - Would these require isolating/sleeving the cable for each task within 6m?

Appreciate any advice with these thankyou!

Originally Posted by: paul.skyrme

I can't answer your question number 1.

However, as far as your question 2 goes, I would say that you need to talk to the local DNO.

That's handy, Paul as i can't answer No 2 but can offer input re Q1. 

The OP would be correct in the scenario for changing a tile. (Reasonably Practicable)

However the basis of the W@H Regs is to Prevent a fall before this stage. If you firmly believe the task is of short duration and doesn't warrant a C/Picker, then your RAMS will show that. Minimise the risk further by affixing the acess ladder and tieing the roof ladder to it, suitably trained employees, inspected equipment etc. You'd probably struggle to find a suitable anchor point for a harness anyway.

The analogy i use is full reroof = full edge protection. One tile = ladder, cat ladder and the above.

However if a C/Picker is available to use, use it.

Hope that helps.

Thank you very much for your response's, most helpful :)

Kind regards