Hall projector - working at heights training?

[Duranis]

Quick question. We have a projector in the hall which is pretty high up (as most of you probably do ). I have been told though that I need to have a working at heights certificate to be able to use ladders to get to it for maintenance. I really don't want to do that if I can avoid it (costs a lot and I don't particularly like heights anyway) but I do need to sort the projector out.

 

I thought that as long as you risk assess and your competent then you would be ok for short duration height work, is that right or wrong?

[plexer]

Basically true but then how do you show competency? easiest way is to attend an official course.

 

As well as working at heights with ladders and step ladders I also did the PASMA portable scaffold tower course which is valid for 5 years and we purchased a tower for this job and others around the school.

 

If you can get some sort of tower or enclosed mini tower they're safer for this type of work than just a set of steps.

 

Ben

[Steve21]

From my understanding in past it isn't down to you (the individual) but the employer/faculties manager etc as to whether people can take the risk.

 

Like my old place we had to either use scaffolding or proper big big ladder thingy (crossbars/extending feet etc can't think of name)

 

Steve

[plexer]

Depends on the persons position within the school and their responsibilities.

 

I did the IOSHH managing safely course and did the risk assessments etc... for working at height which involved IT equipment.

 

Ben

[pcstru]

I thought that as long as you risk assess and your competent then you would be ok for short duration height work, is that right or wrong?

Yes but competency needs to be assessed and an employer will need to be able to show proof of that. That proof may vary (you may not need a certificate but the employer will need some record that you have received appropriate training).

 

Some useful info : http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg401.pdf

[Andrew_C]

Some choices for manglemnet really:-

 

1) Pay to train you, and provide suitable access equipment, that is probably not a stepladder.

2) Pay for already trained contractor to come in and do the work.

3) Errr....

[GTX]

Some choices for manglemnet really:-

 

1) Pay to train you, and provide suitable access equipment, that is probably not a stepladder.

2) Pay for already trained contractor to come in and do the work.

3) Errr....

 

3) Let it break/leave it broken until someone complains.

[Duranis]

Thanks everyone, will have a chat with SLT and see what they want to do, just wanted to get a bit of feedback from others before I did so I had a little knowledge on how others are doing it.

 

Yes but competency needs to be assessed and an employer will need to be able to show proof of that. That proof may vary (you may not need a certificate but the employer will need some record that you have received appropriate training).

 

Some useful info : http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg401.pdf

 

Looking at the document it says:

 

You should make sure that people with sufficient skills, knowledge and experienceare employed to perform the task, or, if they are being trained, that they work underthe supervision of somebody competent to do it.In the case of low-risk, short duration tasks (short duration means tasks that takeless than 30 minutes) involving ladders, competence requirements may be no morethan making sure employees receive instruction on how to use the equipmentsafely (eg how to tie a ladder properly) and appropriate training. Training often takesplace on the job, it does not always take place in a classroom.

 

So for this "training" could just be the site manager making sure the ladder is set up correctly and supervising?

I should also mention it is a proper A frame locking ladder with wide leg supports to stop it tipping sideways. SLT will most likely want me to get some sort of certification for it as a CYA process but I do think its a little wasteful to spend a few hundred on a course for something that will probably take less than an hour of time a year in total (though the flip side I suppose is it will cost them more if I fall and kill myself).

Edited June 18, 2015 by Duranis

[pcstru]

So for this "training" could just be the site manager making sure the ladder is set up correctly and supervising?

IMO that should work but it will come down to your local policy.

I should also mention it is a proper A frame locking ladder with wide leg supports to stop it tipping sideways. SLT will most likely want me to get some sort of certification for it as a CYA process but I do think its a little wasteful to spend a few hundred on a course for something that will probably take less than an hour of time a year in total (though the flip side I suppose is it will cost them more if I fall and kill myself).

 

If they do not (or cannot) demonstrate that they are properly exercising their duty of care to you, then those in the firing line can end up going to prison.

[Andrew_C]

So for this "training" could just be the site manager making sure the ladder is set up correctly and supervising?

Yes; probably. If SM is "competent" to train you. And I see no reason why two human beings can't work out how to use a ladder between them without bits of paper to prove it. As a species we've lasted 100000 years or so...

[bladedanny]

...As a species we've lasted 100000 years or so...

 

But only 10,000 years or so of using ladders.

[unixman_again]

Like my old place we had to either use scaffolding or proper big big ladder thingy (crossbars/extending feet etc can't think of name)

Tallescope perhaps? We had one at my last school and it was brill.

http://www.stageservicesshop.com/shop/image.php?type=T&id=16520

I've been told by several people that you can go up three steps on a ladder without formal training, but this seems carp to me.