[Moderator David@stives]

Hi guys, just thought i would share this little problem with you, we have bee asked to clean these solar panels, but as you can see, in close proximity, there are a number of plasic roof lights.

What h&S considerations would you give this job, and do you think the building owners have an obligation to install some kind of safe system for the roof.

I will let you know what the building owners said after any replys

[Moderator David@stives]

[Moderator David@stives]

[Moderator David@stives]

[DaveG]

A handrail at each end and some common sense.. ie tell the guys there are roof lights up there and to be careful?

[richywilts]

when working dave couldnt u put up a temporary barrier with warning tape and cones to at least deter your employees from stepping near them

[BORBRYCE]

Why is the guy walking near the ridge of the roof? He has a greater chance of slip/falling onto the skylight.

[prestigeclean]

unless the job is top dollar i,d advise you to give it a miss , i spent 10 years as an industrial roofer and unfortunately i know of lots of guys that have been injured falling through those fibreglass rooflights , h and e will advise you to biuld a scaffold access tower and then cover the rooflights with ply , anything less and you only need to trip and your through 1 of those rlights and hopefully waken up in a&e , the covering of the rlights would also need to be done by a roofing firm regards alan

[Jeff Brimble]

Put your own temporary "man-safe" line up there Dave.  

[Seers]

Hi Dave,

Looks a bit too late for health and safety precautions as it would appear you have already gone ahead and done the job!

Cheers,

Huw

[boldy1304]

hi dave i had to pressure wash a massive roof off ex littlewoods distribution factory in wales about 2 year ago now they had to have a scaffold company put a barrier around the whole building with access tower and straight accross both sides of the sky lights so it was impossable to fall through it cost thousands but that was there duty to give safe access

[Smudger]

Huw - now that would be extremely silly 


Darran

[JSMC]

i have similar work on a roof kthat but the roof is certified man safe and you are working in the valley gutter which is all safe to walk on.

[Moderator David@stives]

There are more solar panels over the ridge,

Also the job is quarterly, if we continue with it.

The only reason we went ahead this time was because I had people to watch my back, and I had more or less committed myself to the job, before I realised the skylights were there.

[Smudger]

Dave - i dont think that excuse would have gone down very well with H&S should something have gone wrong...

no matter what commitment you made, on finding that the job was dangerous then no work should have taken place.
until it was safe to commence.

as pointed out in other posts it's not just knowing they are there, what if you slipped/tripped and went through. - no matter who was 'watching out' they could not have saved you.

i would have thought some one with all your experience and company profile would have known better.


Darran

[BORBRYCE]

There are more solar panels over the ridge
Then they should have been done from the other valley or ground/platform if it was a gable.

[Moderator David@stives]

I am more concerned about going forward than being told off for the last clean.

I met the companies h&s guy on site by MY request, he ok'd the job, he didn't seem overly concerned, this guy is responsible for over 1000 properties,

Because of MY concerns, he recommended that if we were that concerned, then maybe we take 3 roof boards with us on the next visit.

Is it me being over the top wanting a passive man safe system, when the h&s guy is just shrugging of my concerns, by putting the onus on the window cleaner to keep moving 3 roof boards about.

I have posted this for your ideas, and to help anyone else whoever comes across this situation.

[Moderator David@stives]

Ronnie, the ridge is more or less flat and is actually the safest part of the roof.
But I know what you are saying

Is the final answer a full on barrier surrounding the skylights ?

[Smudger]

 All reasonable steps will be taken by David Morris Window Cleaning to ensure the safety of all employees,

                                                             your staff and the general public, whilst engaged in window cleaning operations.

 

    Where our window cleaners are cleaning windows, the work activity will be subject to risk assessment.

 

[Smudger]

i see you have safe contractor status Dave...

so how does that work when confronted with type of work ?

Darran