working safely at height

[codamol]

Does anyone know what , if any, insurance i need for working from ladders.I have Public Liability insurance as per scheme membership but customer is asking if im insured to work from ladders. It has just got me thinking, am i , i really don't know to be honest.

Is it just something else i would add onto my PL insurance or would it be seperate. I near choked on my tongue when i found a "working at heights" course for one day at

 

[Sidewinder]

You should have WAH on your insurance if you are covered for elect work, however you need to check with your insurer as different policies will have different conditions.

Also there are height limits often imposed.

You also would need to be competent to undertake WAH as understood by your insurer, to validate the policy conditions.

You must also understand the use of the access equipment you intend to use and use it appropriately to fulfil the insurance conditions.

 

[kme]

Which can often only be validated by having a "working at height" course certificate.

As snakehips says; check with your ins. company mate - they may only cover you if you can prove you have a "ticket" for working at height.

KME

 

[codamol]

Don't even have a section on insurance policy for WAH, will chase that from insurers.

Looks like i will have to do some form of course for my competence proof, as i havent anything on paper about being competent, even tho i had 10 of the last 20 years being checked/tested quarterly for WAH, safe lifting, confined spaces, no pawn on pc etcetc but no longer an employee there. The first 10 years noone really gave a monkeys i think.

Any recommendations for where to take a course, ive looked online but it would be from a CAI ( aerial installers) recommended centre and not local.Also checking harnesses and fall arrest, i might cry. As Im self employed, would i need to send the harness and other items away to be safety checked?

EDIT either kme posts quick or i post really really slowly, think i know which tbh.

 

[kme]

I`m not that quick.....

I did my last one at the same time as manual handling and H&S refresher - did `em with the solar PV course with the NICEIC

Course wasn`t bad - they almost lead you through everything; but it WAS away, and not as cheap as I`d have liked; but at least you can set it against tax.

KME

 

[codamol]

I was thinking about solar PV course sometime in future, so it would all tie in.I have found an online course for about 40 quid that will give me "a quality assured certificate through the post within 5 days" anyone reckon its worth the print or the paper hehe.

Did niceic recommend where to get equipment or just tell you what is needed to comply?

 

[kme]

Pretty much just cover compliance, as far as H&S, WAH and MH are concerned.......

The PV is a little different; you can source from anyone who is MCS accredited.............

HTH

KME

n.b. can`t see the "online course" being worth the paper its printed on, TBH....though I`m NOT speaking from experience, just my personal opinion.

 

[steptoe]

at

 

[kme]

I need to do one of them, mate......

Good point - I forgot about IPAFs

 

[baldelectrician]

My insurance covers me upto 30 feet (or higher if in a cherry picker designed to be at that height)

I bought the fall arrest harness stuff from toolstation - cheaper than hiring oit from the boom company

 

[kme]

Allo baldie - aven`t seen you in a while................

Just checked - mine does, too

 

[steptoe]

My insurance covers me upto 30 feet (or higher if in a cherry picker designed to be at that height)I bought the fall arrest harness stuff from toolstation - cheaper than hiring oit from the boom company

you do know you are NOT allowed to use a fall arrest harness in a cherry picker,?

it must be a fall restraint type.

 

[Sidewinder]

Steps,

You know what I missed that, you are absolutley correct!!!

OK, following on, what about harnesses in flying carpets?...

 

[kme]

Not required. The carpet is "plugged in" to the flyee`s brain; therefore, if you fell, the carpet would take emergency action to protect you.

 

[steptoe]

Steps,You know what I missed that, you are absolutley correct!!!

OK, following on, what about harnesses in flying carpets?...

had a massive fall out with H&S guy from a big multi-national a while back where he insisted we had to wear F-A harnesses,

we got put off site for refusing to wear them,

he got disciplined AFAIK after that and we were allowed back on site.

for a laugh ,

our current H7S guy at work came down to see me and another guy on a cherry picker and after watching us for about 1/2 hr he said, "I didnt know you could drive it from the platform" I think the clue is in the name, MEWPs,,,,,,,,

F'in idiot.

 

[Sidewinder]

OK, No harnesses in Scissor lifts is correct, F-R harnesses in boom lift yes.

Why are harnesses in booms, but not scissors?...

This is another of my gripes with my IOSH colleagues.

 

[codamol]

Really wish i had mugged my managers for the paperwork they were filling out now.

So Im looking at signing up for MEWPs course through the IPAF site, possibly as precursor to signing up for solar PV, or would it be simpler to sign up for solar PV and get the WAH and other courses/refreshers as KME did? and i will keep the paperwork this time

How often is WAh or MEWPs renewed? EDIT 5years according to website for MEWPs

And thanks everyone for answers n laughs.

 

[kme]

No probs.

If it helps - I`ve got WAH, MH & H&S, but still need to do IPAF - I believe it will be cost effective on some solar installs

KME

---------- Post Auto-Merged at 16:01 ---------- Previous post was made at 15:58 ----------

OK, No harnesses in Scissor lifts is correct, F-R harnesses in boom lift yes.Why are harnesses in booms, but not scissors?...

Because scissors are classed as more stable; booms rely on a mechanical linkage to keep the platform horizontal with respect to the ground - scissors do not.

If the mechanical/ hydraulic linkage failed, the platform could become perpendicular to the ground; with an ensuing fall. Can`t happen with a scissors.

KME

 

[Andy™]

Why are harnesses in booms, but not scissors?....

because if your in a mobile boom, and moving, if the base hits something (drops of kerb etc), the basket can 'bounce'. and throw you out. scissor doesnt

also having some rope & fig 8 is useful for when battery goes flat and you need to get down....

---------- Post Auto-Merged at 16:08 ---------- Previous post was made at 16:05 ----------

https://www.youtube.com/embed/5aVWkk4K_HQ?feature=oembedthe main part is at 1.35

 

[Sidewinder]

[quote name='Andy