[Tosh]

We both had harnesses on. Tony has one of the types that is sown into your outer garments. You can't see mine because i was taking the pics. It was the only means of access onto the roof, MEWP was the only choice.

[Smudger]

Not being critical, just interested that you both left the basket, it's not something I would do.

Darran

[Don Kee]

Not sure I'd have got out either, but fair dues

Was there not an option of something with a longer outreach?
Or maybe a scissor lift, with an extendable platform so at least theres no real gap between the picker and roof if you needed to step on/off?

Not being picky, just genuinley wondered why you hired a picker to then step off it...

[Tosh]

Because the intention was to have a 2 metre overlap with the basket from the roof edge, which I believe is the requirement. It doesn't look like much of an overlap in those pictures, in reality it wasn't far off.

One of the reasons we didn't use a scissor-lift was because solar panel cleaning wasnt the only thing we did at height and a scissor lift would have been completely the wrong choice of lift for what else we were doing.

Why would you not both leave the basket? It's not going anywhere.

[Don Kee]

Just usually unclipping from a boom is a bit of a no no as I gather but its fair enough mate 

It didnt look like you'd landed the basket that far over the roofline (think its meant to be 2metres but i'm not 100%) from the pic but you know the job mate, if you were happy then thats what counts!

Like I said, i wasn't picking at you, I  was genuinley asking...if you dont ask you dont pick things up 

[Smudger]

Can you point me to the 2 meter rule ?
Just in my training was that to leave the machine (other than the ground) was a big no no - full harness at all times, that's not to say we have never left the basket, but only with safty line and still myself in control of the machine.


Darran

[Don Kee]

Read the first line of what I posted...


Maybe i should have put, if you wanted to leave the basket then I would have thought 2 metres would be needed but I always thought leaving the basket was a no no

[Tosh]

I believe it usually viewed as one off non routine activity, in much the same way mast climbers are always meant to be clipped on with two harnesses all the time. This is never going to happen in reality, there will always be a point in time when you unclip to make a manoeuvre and it is at this time that you are only clipped on with one restraint clip or hook.

Check out this thread on an IOSH forum.

http://forum.iosh.co.uk/default.aspx?g=posts&m=688429

[Tosh]

if you dont ask you dont pick things up 

You're right, I am far from perfect in many things I do, but if I was unsure about that job or anything at height I would decline.

[Smudger]

Cheers Matt, I shall look more in depth at the site, but a word of caution, they, as I understand it are not official H&S  advisors, and let's face it if you were to read this forum you'd think some of the cr@p spouted on here was gospel.

The whole thing is about you or me to assess the the risk and practicalities - personally I'd use a longer reach machine.

Darran

[Tosh]