01.10.2012

Why use a lift?

A Death Wish candidate from the UK makes one wonder what goes on in some people’s minds.

The photograph was taken at the site of a new shopping centre in the centre of Leeds this Saturday...
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One way to work at height

Two men are working on a large steel beam, one is working safely and efficiently from the basket of a 45ft boom lift. The other has used a ladder to reach the beam and is sitting astride it as if riding a horse. He seems a little lost and is certainly not getting on with the job at hand. On top of all that he is on his mobile phone, seemingly oblivious to what is going on around him… possibly calling for help?

A lift - a 38 metre Palazzani spider lift - is on hand and two men are moving it into position, perhaps our man is stuck and they are coming to the rescue?
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His colleague knows how its done - using a boom lift, while a big spider lift moves in

What is certain is that climbing a ladder, which looks less than securely positioned, to work on a beam is a practice you don’t expect to see on a major prestige contract these days. Moving from the ladder to the beam and back could so easily result in a fall with death or paralysis both possible outcomes. In such an eventuality the hard hat or hi-viz jacket would be of no help – he clearly has his safety priorities mixed up.
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"Help can you come and get me - I 'm stuck?"

And this is all in addition to a serious question about productivity – or lack of it from working in this way. If you add to this the risk of a passing HSE inspector closing the site while he reviews safety practices, to the risk of a fine, to the massive disruption, cost and trauma that a fall would cause and is surprising that the contractor doesn’t have several spare boom lifts lined up to ensure this sort of thing doesn’t occur.

So yes ...a definite Death Wish