Safety Rope for MEWP

[Billhook]

That's a good analogy, RMS Titanic went down with such loss of life because of the failure to plan properly, that's got to tell you something hasn't it?

 

But surely that is exactly what I am doing? Planning ahead and giving myself another chance.

Assume that the machine is tested and the operator is trained and everything is nearly new.

 

I am not talking about operator of machine error but the sort of events that go on in the real world like the incident with the bus.

Yes there may well not have been anything suitable to attach a rope or fall arrester above where they were working, but do you not think that it would be good plannig to have the extra safety measure.

 

The Titanic analogy is rather better than I first thought.

 

They like you thought that they had every safety feature thought out and tested. It could not possibly sink with all those watertight doors.

I am sure that they had a tickbox of a checklist before they set sail. Hydraulics, tick, radio, tick, lifeboats ahhh now we won't be needing many of those will we? Lifeboats are dangerous on the high seas anyway and people might suffer rope burns trying to slide down into them.

 

Imagine being 50 foot up on your tickboxed cherry picker on a building site and one of these guys turns up unexpectedly

 

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aR3iDs-H-8[/ame]

[IVECOKID]

Fatalities will increase ten fold if everyone fastened to a limb , why because the is more chance of the operator forgetting he is attached to a limb when he moves the jib away has to the remote chance of a well maintained Mewp failing .

 

Personally I hate the machines and refuse to use them now or just not do the job .

We had a local Tree surgeon lose his life in front of his son and that has stuck with me .

 

Ste

[wood cutter]

What planet?

[stuartc44]

If your machine has been loler inspected (and probably gone back to the manufacturer after 10 years for a complete overhaul, check the handbook for when it should be done), daily checks done properly (assuming you know what to look for), you are sure of the ground conditions (if not you shouldn't be setting up there), and any where near other people or roads you should have your work area cordoned off with barriers, alternative footpaths and traffic control if necessary. Don't forget the rescue plan due to working at height which would consist of someone on the ground to get you down.

 

If you have all this in place there is very little to go wrong.

[skyhuck]

I know of a council Botex crane that snapped in half a few days after it had passed its LOLER.

[treequip]

But surely that is exactly what I am doing? Planning ahead and giving myself another chance.

 

Ok, find yourself a good length of rope and have a go, see if you can hang on, if you manage to grab the rope at all.

 

You are clearly set on your plan so go with that. Personally I don't rate the idea but its your funeral after all.

 

That's me out of it then.

[IVECOKID]

 

 

Ste

[stuartc44]

I know of a council Botex crane that snapped in half a few days after it had passed its LOLER.

 

I would think there have been vehicle's brakes fail etc. not long after an MOT but it's still a way of spotting potential problems.

[skyhuck]

I would think there have been vehicle's brakes fail etc. not long after an MOT but it's still a way of spotting potential problems.

 

Yes, but by no means a guarantee.

[skyhuck]

Ok, find yourself a good length of rope and have a go, see if you can hang on, if you manage to grab the rope at all.

 

You are clearly set on your plan so go with that. Personally I don't rate the idea but its your funeral after all.

 

That's me out of it then.

 

I see your point about grabbing the rope, but I don't see why holding on would be such an issue, presuming he is strong, fit and of normal weight.