Having recently started a new role in an industry I am not familiar with I am on quite a steep learning curve. I did a visit to any number of sites today where our installers are fitting central heating, solar panels, loft insulation, cavity walls and so on. It was quite a humbling experience, even for someone like me who has worked in railways, nuclear, utilities and construction. Seeing this guy ascending a ladder from a back garden of a house with only a footing mat at the bottom of the ladder, drilling 20mm holes in brick walls at first floor height using only one arm/hand was...impressive. I had a chat with him about the work and specifically about using a harness and karibiner to clip on to the rungs to free both hands, using a Y anchor on the ladder to secure it to the wall via an eye bolt. He acknowledged that it was all much safer but the time spent on the ladder drilling would make it unpractical. Moreover, he was paid a very modest sum for each job and the extra time spent on establishing safety controls...you know the rest. It is my task to evaluate and recommend to the Board my findings, which will make interesting reading. However, I suspect that in the 'real world' not much will change. Is this the sharp end of the industry?

Chris, thanks for your response but actually, I was employed mostly because I am pragmatic. In these types of industries price is the main driver. For instance, I believe the company charges the client about £300 for cavity wall work to a house. There is not much scope for 'state of the art' safety measures with this type of pricing. Indeed, if it was applied, then you would price yourself out of the market and Joe Bloggs down the road would pick up the work and workers would be exposed to even more risk.

Not referring to you personally RayRapp, but it does concern me when I see the phrases 'pragmatic' and 'real world' to the type of scenarios you have described. In my experience this often translates, from the Employers viewpoint, into "we know what we are doing is wrong, but we want a H&S Advisor to tell us it's OK".

Ray, perhaps you should point out to your employer and the contractor how much this will cost them when Fee for Fault comes in next April. Not to mention the cost of a successful prosecution.

Ray, sounds very familiar to me (as have previously posted). In reality, as you rightly point out, you could formulate (given the budget) a SSOW with a handsome price tag but getting the guys (mostly working in isolation and out of sight) to adopt it is another challenge! As previously stated, during my time in a similar industry I cannot recall seeing one guy / pair of installers complying with the SSOW, regardless of the consequences! Sad but true. On a positive note, it's Friday - now back to that car boot PTW system.. :)

Ray I assume that you have a copy of the "CWI - Guide to best practice - Working at height in the retrofit CWI industry" issued by the Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency www.ciga.co.uk Roly

Bob I don't quite get what you say here. Isn't all construction work under CDM?

I guess the real crunch issue here would be when this employer/client asks that you prepare relevant Risk Assessments, Method Statements and the like. Not much room for pragmatism there! (IOSH Code of Conduct and all that). p.s. 'pragmatic" is one of those strange words which has a modern meaning almost entirely opposite to the original (now archaic) use.

Ray you may wish to ask to see their PPE risk assessment and then share yours with them.