currently i do, i ensure access ladder to roof is tied or footed and extends above 1metre above access point, if there are anchorage points on the roof i will attach to these using a harness and lanyard if no anchorage points and of short duration say about 8 or 9 windows i will clean them so long as work can be carried out at least 2 metres from edges of roof or from skylights, if i am to be on roof longer than this then i will take a couple of plastic barriers and place these behind where i am working at least 2 metres from edges of roof.
if workers or myself have any doubts about condition or substance of roof then they will not be accessed for cleaning.
i talked about this issue with Andrew willis of Impact 43 yesterday and although bryan dolby from the federation had posted about this issue a couple of days ago and qouted what he had been told from the HSE , Andrew disagrees and says he was at the meeting where this was discussed and the issue was not resolved, Andrew intends to set up further meetings with HSE, a management agent, the federation and a QC to try and get a final decision.
Andrews main concerns are how to assess stability of surface to be stood on, and when accessing or degressing from the roof it is not possible to provide reasonably practicable solutions to protect the operative should he fall.
Andrew was quite clear that if an accident occured using the methods i was using and an accident occured then i would be prosecuted, so i guess it boils down to whether you think it is worth the risk.
Personally i intend to carry on as i am untill this all thing is sorted out and i also intend to carry on using WFP without courdoning of the fall area in all except the occasional instance that i feel it may be necassary.
