07.09.2008

Death Wish 23

Today’s example of poor practice, was sent three weeks ago by one of our youngest contributors, who watched a Genie 60/34 being used alongside a busy road in Walsall, England, with basic cordoning off. In spite of this the operator was clearly not wearing a harness.
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A 60ft boom in use alongside a busy road in Walsall

It was an application similar to this with an identical machine that took the life of Martin Pilling, 27, when his boom was hit by a passing bus catapulting him to his death in Manchester in November 2006. It was that accident which spurred the industry on to launch the Clunk Click campaign that has been adopted all over the world.
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No harness... but he has a yellow vest!

Sadly there are still plenty of users who risk their lives and the lives of others by choosing not to wear them.

We do not usually name those who send in the Death Wish photographs, for obvious reasons, but in this case we are along with the email we received.

“Hello Vertikal.net,

This Man was spotted along the main route through the town working on the pavement wearing no Harness or lanyard. The Boom type platform was on the edge of the pavement where HGV's and busses pass with inches to spare, if one of the large vehicles was to hit the platform he would be catapulted out the basket with no harness or lanyard to help him not be catapulted out the basket.

Jack Westwood, 13”

Many thanks Jack from the team at Vertikal.Net