Posted By Nigel Hammond I've just seen an amazing solution to trying to avoid using ladders - as required by the Working at Height Regulations. In the building next to our head office, contractors are replacing a suspended ceiling - not using step ladders but stilts! - I'm not sure if this is what the HSC had in mind when they drafted the regulations!

Posted By Robert K Lewis Been in use a long time for this operation and similar. As long as the operatives are well trained and work area maintained to a high standard then they work well. Chair is a bit high though!

Posted By Nigel Hammond I'm not Joking Nikki - I even filmed it on my digital camera.

Posted By Sheila EJ Keogh Very common and very practical. My husband is a plasterer and uses stilts to enable him to reach ceilings (and has done so for 15 years or more). It is much quicker and more cost effective for the customer. Obviously there are dangers where other contractors are on site (tools or cables lying around). However, he would not be without them, inspite of the nick name "coco".....

Posted By Nick House As perviously stated, stilts are a common alternative to ladders/ platforms in certain environments. It has to be remembered that the 'feet' on the type generally used are fairly large, and are also generally made out of rubber (non-slip). Also, the ones that several of my friends 'in the business' use have a damper system on them, which can effectively reduce the impact suffered on the joints. As stated, they seem to be particularly common with plasterers, as by nature of their trade, they need to work pretty quickly. Using platforms would significantly slow them down...

Posted By Alan Haynes If you are interested in what they look like Stilts - £80 on e-bay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BN...tegoryZ633QQcmdZViewItem

Posted By Lynchy Evening All I would like to say that stilts have been around for donkeys' years in the house building industry- as I recall they first became very popular when plasterboarded ceilings and dry lining internal walls were introduced coupled with the lowering of internal ceiling heights from 8 feet to the modern (about) 7 feet. At such heights there was no need any more for the traditional platform so the plasterers started using stilts. This one came up at a meeting attended by an HSE Insp. recently. I heard him say the HSE didn't have a problem with stilts as there is no history of incidents with them!! I can't remember hearing about a single accient involving stilts - can anyone else?? Lynchy

Posted By Robert K Lewis But the Australians may not have been using them correctly - I note that cluttered floors are a problem and other similar matters. As for changing direction or going backwards - how many operatives can do this while standing on their own feet and not fall over? Not many from some of the accidents I've seen!! As has been mentioned accidents using such kit are rare, I have not encountered one in 25+ years in the industry. Slips trips falls are quite another matter. Bob