Welcome to the UK Window Cleaning Forums

Starting or own a window cleaning business? We're a network of window cleaners sharing advice, tips & experience. Rounds for sale & more. Join us today!

Help With Quote For Unusual Job

Point ladder could slip off that as there isn't enough width on the post for it to safely stay on there, one little move while up there could cause it go move and slip.

 
Lol, I know how to use a ladder I'm not gonna rest it on the rung. Give me some credit please.
So how do you safely rest an open top ladder up against a lamp post? When your not ment to lean then on there in the first place!

 
If you look at the picture you will see two parts that are horizontal from the main post, that's where the ladder rests. The porter who has to change the bulbs is up there at least once a fortnight, now unless he can fly, I'm guessing he uses a ladder.

 
No Smurf, think RC was thinking more along the lines of a scaffold tower and everyone in a half mile radius to wear a safety belt.

 
If you look at the picture you will see two parts that are horizontal from the main post, that's where the ladder rests. The porter who has to change the bulbs is up there at least once a fortnight, now unless he can fly, I'm guessing he uses a ladder.


The use of a ladder will always present a greater risk of a fall than working from a work platform and, as there is a variety of work equipment now available, a ladder should not be the first consideration.



A risk assessment should be undertaken and the selection of equipment should follow the hierarchy of controls as set out in the Work at Height Regulations 2005.



Firstly you should look to eliminate working at height, such that in some situations, lights can be lowered to the ground to replace bulbs etc. Where this is not possible, you should look to provide a safe working platform such as MEWP, or personal lift, or podium steps etc.



All these pieces of equipment provide an environment within a guardrail where a fall cannot occur. Where you cannot employ such equipment, and a fall may still occur, you should employ measures to minimise the risk of a fall by firstly collective measures e.g. netting or airbags, and only then, consider personal fall arrest provision.



Finally a ladder is at the bottom of the hierarchy, where it is judged that the work is of low risk and short duration, or where the building layout dictates that only a ladder can be used due to the features of the site.



HSE guidance on the regulations can be found on this link
http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls/regulations.htm


and safe ladder use on
http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls/ladders.htm


One of the key problems with a ladder is stability, and you mention that you have a person to foot the ladder to cover this. Obviously a tied ladder is more stable than footing the ladder, but takes time.



Ladder attachments are normally to enhance stability, so if you have decided that a ladder is the right equipment for the job, you can consider these, but the risk remains of a fall from the ladder, not just from the ladder slipping.



Maintaining three points of contact whilst you work is the probably the most important work practice to prevent a fall from a ladder. If you are requiring both hands on any job for any time then perhaps a ladder is not the right access equipment. The guidance above on ladders covers maintaining three points of contact.


 
I would use my combi ladder & maybe sky hooks too /emoticons/smile.png

Does that look safe enough for you rc?

 
Point ladder could slip off that as there isn't enough width on the post for it to safely stay on there, one little move while up there could cause it go move and slip.
a point ladder would be perfectly safe on a lamp post, trust me i use one everyday and i know the capabilities of where i could and couldnt use it safely, have you even used a point ladder regularly?

 
a point ladder would be perfectly safe on a lamp post, trust me i use one everyday and i know the capabilities of where i could and couldnt use it safely, have you even used a point ladder regularly?
I have used them but not on a daily basis, ladders in the eyes of the hse are the last on the list of choices of equipment to be used on them. There isn't enough surface space for these to be used safety.

 
they are the most appropriate form of access for this work, and again, they would be safe here, there is plenty of width for the top block, and once the topblock and both feet are placed properly there would be no movement, if you were worried you could lash the top of the point ladder to the post but its not really needed.

honestly rc, i think your wrong on this, from someone who uses a point ladder everyday, i think i know there limitations better then you would

 
they are the most appropriate form of access for this work, and again, they would be safe here, there is plenty of width for the top block, and once the topblock and both feet are placed properly there would be no movement, if you were worried you could lash the top of the point ladder to the post but its not really needed.

honestly rc, i think your wrong on this, from someone who uses a point ladder everyday, i think i know there limitations better then you would
Did you read the quote I put up from the hse regarding working on lamp posts earlier on this topic?

They are talking about changing the light bulb but it is the same for cleaning them.

 
yh i read it, and a ladder is still the most appropriate form of access, when considering all of the above, ie, short duration and disproportionate cost of towers etc,

a ladder, particularly a point ladder, and especially if its tied/lashed is safe and consistent with regs

how would you suggest to clean it then?

 
hi ya, i am old enough to remember these lamps when they were still in use, an old boy used to come round with his ladder on a push bike to light the gas mantel, the ornamentle cross bar on the lamps was specificaly to lean the ladder on, i supose the HSE will not allow this?

 
yh i read it, and a ladder is still the most appropriate form of access, when considering all of the above, ie, short duration and disproportionate cost of towers etc,

a ladder, particularly a point ladder, and especially if its tied/lashed is safe and consistent with regs

how would you suggest to clean it then?
i'll answer that later as im out at the minute and only on phone.

 
Back
Top