MEWP or Climbing?

[Little Steven]

Why not Dean? If you have invested good money in purchasing a mewp then it is in your own interest to utilise it as much as possible.

I agree that ignorance is bliss having owned and operated our own mewp for 17 years you realise what an asset they can be and the monthly payments on a good mewp can be considerably less than the monthly salary of a good climber with out the holidays!

The opinions of some people that they are dangerous and that they don't trust them is surprising as they are quite willing to trust their man made ropes harnesses etc or are they just unsure of something they have never tried,a good mewp operator takes time to train just like a climber and an odd days mewp usage here and there is not going to keep you proficient just like a climber.

I also think that if people used a good quality stable mewp with plenty of capacity both in height and outreach they would change their opinions.

 

and when I've finished with the trees, I go out safely and do roofing!

[testcricket01]

Im totally against mewps. i hate them never feel safe in them at all and will be a last resort or the most effective way of doing the job. Ive used loads of different machines hated them all, they have there uses i would hope to own one some day because they can be very useful and time saving on the right jobs. Like this hedge trimming job i wouldnt fancy doing the top and sides off a ladder. If id have climbed each one it would have doubled the time on site costing me more than the hire of the mewp.

 

 

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[rumination]

You have some monstrous hedges over there in the UK.

[Taupotreeman]

Couple from today's job. Pin Oak about 2.5 m from a house. Limbs right over the roof, tv aerial directly underneath the bulk of the limbs. Climber bombed out the side next to the reserve and then we used the MEWP to deal to the remainder and get the tag line out to the ends of the branches. Possible climbing but would have been a prick of a job.

 

 

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[Philip Anderson]

Im totally against mewps. i hate them never feel safe in them at all and will be a last resort or the most effective way of doing the job. Ive used loads of different machines hated them all, they have there uses i would hope to own one some day because they can be very useful and time saving on the right jobs. Like this hedge trimming job i wouldnt fancy doing the top and sides off a ladder. If id have climbed each one it would have doubled the time on site costing me more than the hire of the mewp. [ATTACH]140739[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]140740[/ATTACH]

 

 

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If you hate mewps so much and think that they are so dangerous why on earth would you want to buy one ??

You made the case both for and against mewps maybe you've just been using the wrong machines (wobbly ones) you can use them for far more than just hedges.

Keep on climbing while your young and fit.

[AA Teccie (Paul)]

Hi guys

 

i wonder whats your thoughts about using MEWP(Cherrypicker) for tree work.my employer wants me to use mewp at places where i can basically get in with. 9 out of 10 times that we cant get the thing in anywhere like peoples gardens etc,but even if i could i would prefer to climb:thumbup: so i told that to my employer but obviously H&S wants me to use the mewp.

 

What would you prefer climbing or mewp if you had to choose?

 

Your employer is being responsible and complying with the 'Work at Height Regs.', as he's obliged to do.

 

In practice the two access techniques are often used in tandem...will you ride one?

 

Cheers..

Paul

[Paolo Bavaresco]

It is a common mis-conception that MEWPS are above work positioning within the WAHR hierarchy.

 

MEWPS are equal with WP in the hierarchy.

 

MEWPS are to be chosen in preference only as a collective measure - i.e. if several people have to collectively work at height.

 

But that did not help all of those that lost their lives 'collectively' when working from a MEWP on the Severn Bridge.

 

If a MEWP is risk assessed as more appropriate than WP, then use it. If it isn't, don't.

 

I hope that helps.

[David Humphries]

We had a MEWP on site today for some bracing but we chose rope access instead due to the sensitive nature of the root plate of this 500 year old lapsed beech pollard and beter work positioning required for the splicing.

 

There's a time & a place, as all aspects of a job need considering before opting for just a mewp.

 

.

[Treeworld]

You have some monstrous hedges over there in the UK.

 

Yes apparently for all those giants living here that "may look in on my garden!!":lol:

[Steve Bullman]

The arguement of wether it is easier/quicker to do a tree from a mewp aside...I find I can't get a good feel for the shape of a tree from outside the crown, much prefer to climb. Having said that, the occassional ride in a mewp comes in handy