Opinions Please. I have sub-contractors working on one of our sites fitting ceiling panels working from Scaffold Towers. The ceiling height is 2.5m, so they are using small pop-up aluminium towers with a platform height at about 1m. It is currently written in to our risk and method statement, that brakes to be applied to wheels during use. I am being asked to review the paperwork, as the installers prefer to be able to move the tower as they progress along the ceiling by pulling themselves along whilst standing on the platform. I can understand that having to climb up and down to apply brakes to move the tower only a few feet is time consuming, but all literature I can find states that brakes must be applied during use. Any thoughts??

This is what is known as skate boarding or surfing. This practise is against the manufacturers guidelines and the PASMA code of practise, which is a recognised competency for building and inspecting towers. However with any course - its open to abuse. Any mobile scaffold tower should have 4 brakes applied when in use - thats why they are there. Otherwise you may want to use a mewp. I can't see how you can complete a risk assessment and approve that working with no brakes is acceptable? Should an accident occur, I think allowing anyone to do so, it would be very difficult to defend your position. Pauline

Thanks all. That was the answer I was expecting, just needed confirmation.

Craig, just as a matter of my own interest how are they accessing the working platform, (1m high is there a hatch or is it over the side rails)? And is fall protection handrails and toeboards fitted? Thanks

Hi Craig, thanks for the reply. You may find a few replies about the lack of a fourth safety rail? Have you thought about stilts? Used in the correct circumstances, and as long as the user is competent I have found stilts to be excellent for the purpose in similar situations if the ceiling fixer is wanting to move along quickly. Having said that I'll probably be criticised for even suggesting them.

Just a thought. Why not fit them with full harness and lanyards, and let's not forget the air bags in case, despite all this they still manage to fall from the dizzy height of 600mm! Didn't somebody just issue a report about sensible risk assessment!

I really must wear my glasses when typing out replies. I thought it was a 2.5m tower - ROFL!

Rather than using a scaffod tower, is there no way that you can get a small Scissor lift in for the works, we use very small ones which can fit through a normal sized door!, this would eliminate the need for continually moving the scaffold tower.

Errr stilts, probably not a ha ha

I use to like stilts!

No intention of letting this drift into an arguement, Ian. I deliver PASMA training and the W@H regs are quite clear about the hierarchy. People can produce an R/A without guardrails if they like but i believe allowing someone to work at 600mm-800mm without collective fall prevention leaves themselves open to possible litigation for producing an insufficient R/A should someone fall and injure themselves. PS (Agree the likelihood of death is minimal) PPS (Would like to see the M.I.M. of the Room mate to see if it can be used without guardrails on one side and if so, how it complies with the W@H Regs)

Wow. The expression stirring up a Hornets nest comes to mind. To answer a few of the questions. On 99% of all our jobs, Scissor Lifts are utilised. There is however a small number of multi tier projects we work on where access to a second or third floor with a scissor lift is not available. Our risk and method statements DO state that handrail is to be fitted to all edges on the small Scaffold Towers. However on occasion whilst visiting site, I have witnessed them being used with only three. Yes the individuals in question are spoken to, but as I am sure most of you are aware that you can’t be on site all the time, so rely heavily on site management to report back. And I am sure if the site management don’t pick up on it, or don’t consider it an issue, the practice gets abused. And whilst we are on the subject The W&H Regulations Schedule 2. Section 3 item B States Toe-boards shall be suitable and sufficient to prevent the fall of any person, or any material or object, from any place of work. Yet small scaffold towers and Podium steps as suggested don’t have them so in turn must contravene the regulations. If this is the case how can they have BS or CE approval??