New HSE Solar Guide

[SRE]

http://www.cskills.org/uploads/GS001_Safe solar panel installation_tcm17-33755.pdf

Not sure if everyone has seen this - further proof that installing from ladders may well cut costs in the short term but could cost both financially and in terms of life. I shall be taking this to every customer's house in future to prove the point that scaffolding is not an optional extra.

 

[moggy1968]

about time and well overdue. Still don't really see why you need a fluorescent for working on a roof though, what's going to run you over up there! I only require it if guys are having to work or go into a traffic area for access or to collect materials. Also I think they should have made mention of the use of helmets to protect against falls, but also to protect workers on the ground from possible falling objects. Also helmets should be used with a retaining strap.

 

[Gavin A]

Flourescents are good on the roof for avoiding accidentally knocking someone with a rail etc particularly when it's getting towards dusk.

helmets... on the roof I find they are more of a hazard than anything else, though I guess maybe with a retaining strap at least they'd not fall off every time you tried to get under a panel to do the wiring etc. I reckon we've lost more helmets off the roof than anything else when we have worn them. Anyone working below the scaffolding though should have a helmet on all the time IMO - though my spark appears determined to ignore that rule until something actually does land on his head, the amount of times I have to tell him about it.

 

[Worcester]

Flourescents are essential, as they make the ability to indetify individuals easy. On our larger jobs, we use different coloured flourescents and different couloured helmets, and with a swift glance I can see whose in charge / responsible for what and so can everyone else. On small domestic jobs being able to see / identify where people are is equally beneficial. Helmets are a moot point when on the roof untill someone drops a bracket on you when you are underneath the scaffold fetching the clip you just dropped.

 

[Gavin A]

we try to remember to have helmets at the base of the ladder to be put on when anyone comes down from the scaf - also good for customers who decide to stand outside watching you working.

 

[moggy1968]

fluourescent on the roof, waste of time IMHO. I know who my guys are, what they do, and where they are!! It's following the lemmings without thinking it through IMHO. Wearing a fluorescent increases heat degradation and restricts movement. I've seen the results of enough ladder falls to be absolutely persuaded a helmet is essential, and a waste of time and a hazard in itself without a strap. What head protection do your guys have going down the ladder if the helmet is at the base! Surely the most risky time is climbing down the ladder, for knocks, falls and being hit by objects. If you wear a helmet at no other time wear it when your going up and down the ladder! If your losing helmets they are either the wrong helmet or not being worn correctly. The standard site type helmet is totally unsuitable. You need a proper working at heights helmet, with a retaining strap and no peak so you can look up unobstructed. We also have a clear agreed instruction of 'BELOW' if something is dropped,, which comes from the climbing world. If your spark doesn't wear his helmet when you tell him to it's still you in the dock. I'm sure being sent off site will help reinforce the message! But then, what I think actually doesn't really matter. If you can stand up and justify it in court then your in the clear.

 

[Worcester]

From this photo, I know exactly who is who and where they are. - flouro's essential .....

 

[Earthstore]

Blimey Gordon, you have one man bending down working, and 9 foremen, was this a council job?

 

[Outspoken]

Gordon, if your so safety conscious why have none of the workers on that roof been supplied or required to wear Gloves, none are wearing eye protection, both are now legal requirements, and has that one actually working ever been on a Manual Handling Course, because clearly he will wish he had been if he keeps lifting stuff like that...

Oh by the way, technically (and I know it is an unwritten rule) but the only recommended Hi Vis clothing for construction environments are the horrible lime green ones. The Orange are technically for track side work, high speed carriageway and in docks or air side. I know they are used in many environments these days, but then many HSE "rules" are applied as it suits employers rather than common sense.

 

[Gavin A]

why have none of the workers on that roof been supplied or required to wear Gloves, none are wearing eye protection, both are now legal requirements,

how do you mean, legal requirements?

It's a legal requirement to ensure they're available for use if required, and to require your worker to wear them when needed to protect against hazards.

It's not a legal requirement to wear eye protection or gloves the entire time while on site, especially not while stood around waiting for a briefing, as I assume was the case here.

 

[Outspoken]

How about the chap clearly working?

 

[whinmoor]

How about the chap clearly working?

He's not really working. He's setting up one of the goalposts for the forthcoming yellows v oranges 5 a side match!

 

[moggy1968]

Gordon, if your so safety conscious why have none of the workers on that roof been supplied or required to wear Gloves, none are wearing eye protection, both are now legal requirements, and has that one actually working ever been on a Manual Handling Course, because clearly he will wish he had been if he keeps lifting stuff like that...

Oh by the way, technically (and I know it is an unwritten rule) but the only recommended Hi Vis clothing for construction environments are the horrible lime green ones. The Orange are technically for track side work, high speed carriageway and in docks or air side. I know they are used in many environments these days, but then many HSE "rules" are applied as it suits employers rather than common sense.

blanket rules about you must do this, you must do that are not what H&S are about, it's about making an intelligent assessment of risk. You do not need to wear eye protection the whole time you are on site, you need to wear eye protection when doing something that may be a hazard to your eyes and the level of protection should reflect that risk, so the eye protection for grinding will be different to the eye protection for a splash hazard. The use of gloves may in fact increase the risk of accident due to reduced dexterity. It depends on what you are doing. Likewise eye protection can become a hazard in certain circumstances. Your supposed to use your noggin, not blindly follow supposed 'legal' requirements. You assess the risk, then take the appropriate steps to mitigate the risk.

 

[Gavin A]

How about the chap clearly working?

gloves probably wouldn't be a bad idea, but maybe not a necessity depending what the material of the thing is he's holding, eye protection... why?

 

[Outspoken]

blanket rules about you must do this, you must do that are not what H&S are about, it's about making an intelligent assessment of risk. You do not need to wear eye protection the whole time you are on site, you need to wear eye protection when doing something that may be a hazard to your eyes and the level of protection should reflect that risk, so the eye protection for grinding will be different to the eye protection for a splash hazard. The use of gloves may in fact increase the risk of accident due to reduced dexterity. It depends on what you are doing. Likewise eye protection can become a hazard in certain circumstances. Your supposed to use your noggin, not blindly follow supposed 'legal' requirements. You assess the risk, then take the appropriate steps to mitigate the risk.

Thanks for making the point others made about Hi-Vis vests....all you have to do is adjust the goal post for others to walk through...