Welcome Guest! The IOSH forums are a free resource to both members and non-members. Login or register to use them

Postings made by forum users are personal opinions. IOSH is not responsible for the content or accuracy of any of the information contained in forum postings. Please carefully consider any advice you receive.

Notification

Icon
Error

Options
Go to last post Go to first unread
Admin  
#1 Posted : 18 March 2001 22:50:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest
Admin

Posted By John Pettley
I would like to know what to do if, when using a elevating platform and the companys employees, who are IPAF trained, attach themselves using a harness, and under the regulations offer a harness to a client who also wishes to go up in the elevating platform but refuses to use the harness.

What safe system can we put into place, in case the client has a accident due to the fact that they refused to use the harness?

Any ideas or help would be appreciated.
Admin  
#2 Posted : 19 March 2001 08:23:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest
Admin

Posted By Mike Charleston
John

My suggestion is to prepare a disclaimer that says your advice is to wear the PPE provided but as an independent person, they are entitled to their own decision. Make sure that a statement is made to the effect that the guest absolves your company from any liability in the event of an accident whilst using the ewp, and enforce signature of this before the person can go aloft.

Mike
Admin  
#3 Posted : 19 March 2001 10:00:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest
Admin

Posted By Denis Hands
My response would be an unequivocal 'No harness, no ride'. I believe that the previous correspondent's suggestion of a witten disclaimer would not be worth the paper it was written on in the event of an accident. The central question in any subsequent investigation or court case would be 'What did you do to manage the risks?' If there is no risk, why do the machine operators wear harnesses?
Admin  
#4 Posted : 19 March 2001 10:15:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest
Admin

Posted By Alan Harsley
I agree with Dennis, above, the same applies with regard to hard hats on construction sites. They are often provided for visitors, if they refuse to wear them then they do not gain access to the site. Refusal to comply with the safety requirements of the company should result in no access to the site.
Admin  
#5 Posted : 19 March 2001 13:46:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest
Admin

Posted By Philip Mackie
I agree, no harness no ride, company policy should state clearly that all employees and visitors must wear the relevant PPE
Admin  
#6 Posted : 19 March 2001 14:24:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest
Admin

Posted By Laurie
Couldn't agree more. The only instance I know of where PPE is optional is 85 - 90 dB!

Does anybody know of case law where a disclaimer has been accepted in a H&S context?

Laurie
Admin  
#7 Posted : 19 March 2001 19:58:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest
Admin

Posted By Paul Garner
I agree with the above comments. If the visitor does not wish to be harnessed then he should not be allowed to ride the EWP. To let him do so and an accident occurs your company will be dealt with most severely.
Section 3 of HASAWA says it all.
Admin  
#8 Posted : 20 March 2001 09:53:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest
Admin

Posted By Ian Harper
I agree with the above comments.

But a quick point, you should already have a system in place. By defining that harnesses are required a risk assessment must exist and perhaps a method statement.

Any client not wanting to wear a harness would have to produce their own risk assessment that, I might suggest, is reviewed by the operators of the platform.

I've tried this and in reality its a bit more diplomatic than refusing access, as they always end up copying my assessment.

Admin  
#9 Posted : 20 March 2001 11:28:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest
Admin

Posted By Ken Taylor
If the accident happens, the HSE will want to know who was in control of the workplace at the time. If, as I strongly suspect, it was not the client, it would have been down to that person/company to have a safe system of work in operation. The disclaimer would be of very little help.
Users browsing this topic
Guest (2)
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.