17.02.2012

Safe as windows

Spotted by a reader in Towcester, UK, staff working for a national window and guttering replacement company using some less than state-of-the-art access equipment.

Our correspondant noticed the men fitting guttering and that they were clearly equipped with more suitable equipment for the job than the usual ladder - however...

It consisted of a three inclined pole arrangement and purpose built decking. While not the ultimate equipment for the job, such devices can be very effective for this type of job and can also be perfectly safe, IF set up well.
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A Death Wish? just about...

In this case it the set up was just borderline – it does not appear to be level, there is no guardrail on the end and no mid rail or toe board for most of its length. In fact it looks like a perfectly good two leg platform has been ‘bodged into a questionable extension.

It is nowhere near as bad as most of our Death Wish candidates, but we think that given the size of the company and the lack of fall protection on the end it just sneaks in and qualifies.