Posted By Philosophical I suggest you highlight the problems of toxic shock due to being suspended from a harness. You may also consider the hierarchy of control and I would suggest a MEWP is somewhat safer than suspended from a rope - I know which I would prefer. Andy

Posted By Steve Leigh Paul I work full time in industrial rope access and have done for over 12 years ...so dangling on a rope in a harness and using an angle grinder is not new to me, and this guy wants to do this with a MEWP available? I'm sorry but this person needs introducing to WAHR and M(HSW)R very quickly or removing from his position.

Posted By Saba Alai Paul I completely agree with the others, especially with calmly explaining the legal requirements in detail. You might get added ammunition from looking up some prosecutions for falls from height. I find that helps make the risk management case better. Saba

Posted By Liam Nolan Hi, Along with all the other suggestions I would throw in the following as it was told to me many moons ago about risk assessments and it has to do with reasonably forseeable. If there is a room of people and they are studying a item with regard to forseeing risk, it only takes one person to say there is a risk present. Doesn't matter if the 5 others disagree, they all have to go along with the individuals forseen risk. To try to make myself clearer, if they do not change their ways and an accident occurs, then the 'I told you it would happen' line can be trotted out by you. If you have the assessment properly documeted (and I presume you do as you are bringing it to the attention of a meeting) then the person that gets injured will clean up with an insurance claim. The owners and manager will end up in court by the HSE and then when the details come out in the papers, they will be laughed at - "What they had a MEWP and the twits were hard men and had to do it the wrong 'tough' way". I find it helps to spell out the likely consequences to them selves (as I tried to describe above) has more affect than explaining the law and common sense as to why they should do it the correct way. I would further compound their problems by refusing to budge on my assessment (and you are right in this assessment). Let the RA stand. if they wish to ignore reason then let them know that they are taking responsibility for it. What ever position you are in (employee ? cosultant?) you are being paid to provide professional advice. give it an stick to it. hope this helps. Liam

Posted By Gerry Knowles The adventure centre that I do some work for has a four climbing walls. They do from time to time require maintenance. Despite that fact that we are full of experienced climbers who would be more that capable of carrying out the repairs. We always erect a suitable scaffold (we don't have a MEWP) to carry out the work. It is I feel that providing safe access is the only way to achieve this type of task and dangling on a rope with whatever equipment is required is not.

Posted By Steve Leigh As, I said in my previous response although trained to do the type of work stated, I must restate my original response, and to agree with the other respondees that, a risk is present and that there is available a more suitable method of access. I often choose other methods of access if they are available,hard work is hard work and if there is an easier option available, I know what I would choose everytime. This 'macho' attitude does not serve the access industry in general and needs to be trained out or weeded out let them choose!!

Posted By Nick Higginson Merv Eliminate the risk - stick to beans on toast like me. Regards Nick