[Dave Willis]

Can it be done? Would you be breaking wahr? Could the company be in trouble for asking you specifically to clean their gutters from a ladder? (they even offered the use of their own three section ladder).

[Smurf]

To work from ladders at height is not illegal but need to follow the HSE guidelines. However some have a ladder ban in place to cover their own arse if something goes wrong. If they don't mind paying for safer access methods to be used then all is good as you are supposed to anyway when conducting a risk assessment.

[martin hulstone]

I have insurance to 15 metres, but not been that high for a while.
I clean the gutters yearly on one of my commercial properties by ladder (care home )with the owners insisting that the ladders are footed to validate there insurance? i do not do many anymore as i am trying to phase out extras but it is part of the window cleaning contract on that property. i do not own a gutter vac.

[Smurf]

I like the bit about they would even lend you a triple set of ladders as that made me laugh. 

As commercial guttering can come in all shapes, sizes and heights  have you got a pic of the job in question so I can see what they are asking you to do?

[Smudger]

Yes you can, but regulations say if it can be done a safer way, I'd gutter vac from the ground then this should be the preferred method.

H&S is NOT about banning ladders or other working methods, it's about prevention and lowering risks.

If you have assessed the job, and feel you have taken the necessary steps to minimise the chances of an accident then go ahead and use them.

Darran

[martin hulstone]

Good Evening Darren,
How much do you think it would be in total to invest in a complete commercial gutter vac system, ie vacuum, poles, attachments, generator, camera,extension leads etc to reach a 15 metre height?
Many thanks

[Dave Willis]

It's a funny one, it belongs to a company who installs fire alarms and assesses fire hazards in factories. They should in theory be very hot on working at height, health and safety etc. I told them it was a dodgy area and I wouldn't be insured for the job. It's box section guttering with an overhang if my memory serves me. I wonder if he'd be prepared to send an employee up there to pull the tufts out, probably not.
I got rid of my big vac so don't want the job anyway.

[Dave Willis]

Yer tiz

[Dave Willis]

Oh yes, how much to clean windows? Same round the back pretty much.

[Smurf]

Yer tiz

You can borrow our ladders my arse 

[rosskesava]

If the customer expresses a preference and it's within the WAHR (i.e. not above 9m with a ladder without additional safety measures), then yes, it can be done off ladders provided you've discussed other viable methods of doing the same job with the customer.

[Og]

If the floor is Tarmac  or concrete etc, chuck a Scaff tower ( on wheels) up. Take ten mins, nice and safe, happy days.