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Posted By kelvin
Hello all,
During my Con Cert our lecturer firmly stated that plastic ties were innapropriate for securing access ladders. Could somone point me in the right direction for proving or dismissing this claim.
Kelvin
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Posted By Ken Taylor
Presumably this now comes from the requirements of Schedule 6 of the Work at Height Regulations for a ladder to be positioned so as to ensure its stability during use and for a portable ladder to be prevented from slipping during use by securing the stiles at or near their upper or lower ends; an effective anti-slip or other effective stability device; or any other arrangement of equivalent effectiveness. The key word throughout all this is 'effective'. It would seem unlikely for a cable-tie to have been designed to withstand the potential load of a slipping ladder complete with operative and tools.
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Posted By Stuart Nagle
Simple really, the plastic can be easilly cut or broken and in effect the ladder can then be used without consent.
Three ways of controlling access:
1) on fixed ladders a sheet of aluminium or steel padlocked into place over the rungs (on both sides if the ladder is not against a wall etc),
2) haveing the ladders in the stores and only issued if fit for use and only to authorised persons
3) securing ladders with chains and padlocks (a little harder to break) on ladder hangers to cannot be removed except by authorised key holders...
Must admit I had a bit of a chuckle at the thought of ladder rungs secured (on the ladder) with plastic ties....
Regards...
Stuart
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Posted By Frank Hallett
Evening Kelvin.
The first two respondants have taken different views of your term "securing". To ensure that I and the rest
of us address the correct problem, could you please provide a little more direction?
Incidentally, a particular form of plastic ties are used throughout the East on bamboo and similar scaffolding as the preferred securing meathod. The type and design functions of the ties must also be considered and not ruled out because their design has been misinterpretted.
Regards Frank Hallett
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Posted By Kelvin
Frank,
I am referring to the use of plastic or also know as cable ties to secure access ladders to scaffolding. I was looking for suitable legislation to qoute when stating that these ties should not be used. I find that Ken has pointed me to the appropriate sections of the WHR and the requirements are also outlined in the CHSW Regs. The phrasing of 'effective anti-slip' suits me to boot.
Thanks for your time
Kelvin
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Posted By Robert K Lewis
I will have to ask why you think access ladders are suitable for scaffolds?
When one considers the array of rope and string that are used and not commented on by the HSE when they visit site then cable ties of suitable size are far superior. There are in fact some ties which have nylon/polymer reinforcement embedded in the plastic and these have significant greater strength for little extra cost. As noted previously the requirement is for adequately tied or otherwise secured. Many trainers think that this must mean metal clips or similar. Personally I prefer a good cable tie to a badly used "pigs ear" clip.
Bob
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Posted By Frank Hallett
I've just re-read your response to me Kelvin - thanks for the courtesy of expanding on your need.
I didn't initially get the point that your question was aimed at excluding what is actually an extremely useful [when properly selected and used] item of securing equipment in favour of some other item that must also be properly selected and used.
I think that it is unfortunate that this exchange could unfortunately be used by some to extend the "sensible risk management v other approaches" arguement that is now gathering a belated and long-overdue prominence.
Good luck with your search for the most reasonably practicable means of securing ladders to anyhting [make sure that the "anything" is suitably secure first though! Another scaffolding fiasco to marvel at in the August SHP!
Frank Hallett
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