[8weekly]

How do you deal with gutter jobs where the vac doesn't cut it? Do you get another guy to foot the ladder? Had one today where it's just a standard clear, but when half way through the owner says the downpipe is blocked. I don't let my staff go up ladders unless there's two of them.

I just wondered how others deal with these jobs, especially where it all looks straightforward but turns out not to be?

[TomCrowther]

I would get your staff qualified in a recognised ladder safety certification. Iosh or similar.  Then provide them with the correct ladder safety kit such as laddermate and a decent stand off.
Have a tight risk assessment drawn up and get them to sign it.
I do these jobs on my own and feel pretty safe but I don't take risks and neither should your guys. I have turned jobs down because of safety reasons.

[Smurf]

I use this ladder setup as don't trust anyone to foot a ladder for me.

[Shrek]

How much do they cost smurf? Gotta link?

If the vac doesn't cut it, sometimes there's no choice but to get up the ladders ( apart from walking off the job) .
I don't like it tbh, but some down pipes are Jam packed with weeds and no matter how much sucking your vac does , they won't come out ...

[Matt.]

That still wouldnt cut it with h&s smurf.
If u being strict by the rules of an employer
Under no circumstances would a single man operator be ok to carry out that job. I recently passed me accreditations for safecontractor & chas and the stuff they bark on about is unreal.

[8weekly]

I would get your staff qualified in a recognised ladder safety certification. Iosh or similar.  Then provide them with the correct ladder safety kit such as laddermate and a decent stand off.
Have a tight risk assessment drawn up and get them to sign it.
I do these jobs on my own and feel pretty safe but I don't take risks and neither should your guys. I have turned jobs down because of safety reasons.

Cheers. Will look into Losh.

[Smurf]

That still wouldnt cut it with h&s smurf.
If u being strict by the rules of an employer
Under no circumstances would a single man operator be ok to carry out that job. I recently passed me accreditations for safecontractor & chas and the stuff they bark on about is unreal.

Reminds me of this so say h&s expert how not to use a ladder anchored to a wall and fall arrest lol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd_FMM8FPAU

Unlike the ladder kit many firms provide an insist employees use after training like openreach, Sky etc that may I add many work on there own and will be sacked if they don't use it. That's even going up 2-3 rungs of a ladder. lol https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JSxy43fnPA