[dave f]

got a phone call this morning at 7.30 am from the hse wanting to make an apointment to discuss safty at work having got my van letterd up thats where they got my number as they where passing the other day it appers they are doing a purge on ladder users and commercial cleaners and genral windies after a bit of disscution its an on going thing so you may get a call from h s e. i dont think you can refuse a apointment???any one else had a call recently

[Tom Kelly]

Hi Dave,

Could I ask a favor please?

If they give you some contact details, so that are can contact them, would you forward these onto me please?

We've been trying to get in contact with them, to ask some questions regarding ladder safety!

Thanks a lot!

Tom

[Llaaww]

Don't forget to pitch them for the windows while you are there.

Maybe go fot the gutters as well..

[dave f]

  ; dint need to ask for add  details as all was well as i dont use ladders or do comm work you can get add on line 

[tacky]

they will only say ladders r not banned .but because u ar self employed ,could u use a alternative method that will keep your feet on the ground ,so u turn round n say u just bought one of those wfp thingies .they will put a safety sticker on your jacket .  all sorted

[supernova77]

If they had phoned me at 7:30am I would have just hung up as soon as he said who he was!    7:30am 

[Justen Uff]

I would say sorry it's not safe to ring so early.

[dave f]

  good job i was not on the job

[Nick Wareham]

good job i was not on the job

You could have said "don't worry I'm using a pole"

[Crystal-clear]

thats lovley charge them your day rate . 

[idealrob]

All i can say is about time, we have been getting visits about every 5 years from HSE, they are friendly if you understand & follow the laws, so keep  all you written risk assesments are upto date, follow the WAHR, have you ladder record book upto date, all employee training records, job method statement, etc

Easy, for those who take safety seriously

idealrob

[dave f]

i agree but as i dont use ladders  as i told the guy ok was the reply and left it at that plus i  :)dont do comm as i said in the last post so dont need risk assesment etc

[idealrob]

i agree but as i dont use ladders  as i told the guy ok was the reply and left it at that plus i  :)dont do comm as i said in the last post so dont need risk assesment etc

risk assesments are not just for commercials, even on domestics, with the WAHR law, if a ladder is used a full written risk assesment has to be done, and thats the law, how many actually do this is probably 1%, but lets just hope HSE are doing more checks

idealrob

[DG Cleaning]

Don't you just hate the the current safety culture?

[DG Cleaning]

and the safety geeks on here "its all about saving lives don't you know blah blah blah blah"   

[Paul Coleman]

If they had phoned me at 7:30am I would have just hung up as soon as he said who he was!    7:30am 

"Could you please phone back when the office will be open?  Thank you."

[Paul Coleman]

Seriously though, what could you tell them about ladder usage.  Rarely use the ladder except when going onto a flat roof.  Use an anti slip device except when it can be pushed down into the grass as eye bolts are not embedded into the building on domestics.  Check the condition of the ladder regularly (at least three times per year).  Have anti slip ladder "mitts" on top of it (though these are not really doing anything if going onto flat roof).  Stretch ladder at least 1 metre above roof line.  Visually check condition of roof (though hidden dangers may lurk underneath - especially if it's an old chip board one).  Avoid job (or the ladder bit of it anyway) in adverse weather conditions.  Wear slip resistant footwear.  Tieing ladder at top not practical as you have to climb it to do so and window cleaning on a flat roof is one climb only.  Where possible only take trad kit onto roof to clean as hose and pole may get caught up around your feet.  If you must take WFP up there, extend pole before climb to pull it up when you get to top as this limits what you carry (though this does mean briefly working within 2 metres of the edge).  Where possible, lean ladder into internal angle while no weight on it (especially if there is a breeze).
Can anyone add to this?

[idealrob]

Can anyone Add anything ?

Yes, some very good points above, but ladders have to be given a unique number and logged for record, and recorded monthly, also on a serious note, under current law, you cant access a flat roof legally, as mentioned above.
http://www.windowcleaningmagazine.co.uk/blog/ladder-work-to-die-for-by-andrew-willis/

Also dont forget the written risk assesment for using a ladder, and this does not just apply to employees, its for one man businesses, self employed etc
If using WFP or ladder  safety signs/cones on display and corden off the area at least the length of the ladder or pole length,
any more ?

idealrob

[Paul Coleman]

Can anyone Add anything ?

Yes, some very good points above, but ladders have to be given a unique number and logged for record, and recorded monthly, also on a serious note, under current law, you cant access a flat roof legally, as mentioned above.
http://www.windowcleaningmagazine.co.uk/blog/ladder-work-to-die-for-by-andrew-willis/

Also dont forget the written risk assesment for using a ladder, and this does not just apply to employees, its for one man businesses, self employed etc
If using WFP or ladder  safety signs/cones on display and corden off the area at least the length of the ladder or pole length,
any more ?

idealrob

Well that does seem like catch 22 info on that link.  To get on and off the top of the ladder you have to go within 2 metres of the edge.  Also, from a practical perspective rather than something dreamed up in an office, having the ladder protruding more than a metre sometimes gets in the way and causes more danger than it resolves.
Some roofs have brickwork built up around the edge and it has to be climbed over.  This isn't so bad when getting onto the flat roof but I have found it unsafe when going in the other direction.  Tieing the ladder would be practical in this instance (to prevent sideways slip) until you got to the point where both feet are on the ladder.  However, try finding something to which to tie it.  "Tieing" need not take time.  A ladder strap should do the job where it only pulls through one way without the clamp being released.

[idealrob]

The man who wrote the article and is speaking about it at Windex, is Andrew Willis, had more than 20 years on the tools window cleaning, and adviser to many blue chip companies and HSE asked him about their building, from a H & S issue, and for the record the HSE offices window cleaning safety issues was a total disgrace.
And his familly run a domestic/ commercial window cleaning business today.

And yes, getting on flat roofs is a issue today

idealrob