Working at height?

[HappyHippyDad]

I have a tripping RCD in a church. The faulty circuit supplies 5 x spotlights which are on the inside walls of the church. They are as high as trying to reach above a first story window in a house so perhaps 5m above ground. I will eliminate all other possible faulty parts (switches etc) before invesigating the lights but it's highly likely it will be the lights which look subject to damp and also perhaps birds nests.

I can foresee the church pews making it difficult to get a ladder in between them, although it might fit as it does not have a supporting bar at the bottom.

On rare occasions I get my big ladder out if I have to work at height (see pic below of my ladder) but it will only be for a short, simple jobs and I feel uncomfortable doing this in the church by myself.



What would others do in this situation?
Would you have someone with you? How would that actually help?
Would you put up internal scaffolding? That would be a much larger cost.
Would you somehow secure the ladder?


Thanks all.

 

[telectrix]

i'd go for a scissor lift or cherry picker every time.

 

[Pete999]

i'd go for a scissor lift or cherry picker every time.

Ave a hard job getting a scissor lift in amongst all them Pews Tel? or a cherry picker.

 

[telectrix]

pews aren't generally fixed to the floor. just shove 'em around a bit.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

It will be good to see what one of the 'towers' look like, although I think I am erring towards scaffolding due to the limited access. I expect they'd be able to get scaffolding up between the pews.

 

[OnlQQker]

Whatever you do don't go asking the priest or vicar for a bunk up.

 

[Moley]

Would any of this lot be any use to you?
LINK!!

 

[dave274]

MiTower - One Person Quick Build Tower - HSS Hire

Hire quick build MiTower direct from online equipment hire specialists HSS.

www.hss.com

I've used one of these before, simple to erect and move around and it fits in a medium sized van

 

[littlespark]

I do a bit of work at our local church. Had the same problem with spotlights that I could luckily teach from the balcony.
The biggest problem was “old joe” the caretaker of the past would change the lamps, and put the faulty ones back in the store room beside the new ones.
7 boxes of lamps and only 1 good one found.
ive suggested the get LED ones into stock.

Another balcony had lights that were tripping their mcb. Due to the balcony not being used for safety reasons, I disconnected the part of the circuit going up there.

a big problem with churches I find is the location of the db is in the most awkward corner they can find.... and of course, you can’t swear in a church.

 

[davesparks]

How do they change the lamps in the lights if you can't get at them with a ladder?

 

[littlespark]

How do they change the lamps in the lights if you can't get at them with a ladder?

I would reckon the time the lights were fitted, they didn’t have H+S telling you not to use a ladder

 

[DPG]

I've used one of these before, simple to erect and move around and it fits in a medium sized van

That's what she said.

 

[Pete999]

pews aren't generally fixed to the floor. just shove 'em around a bit.

That's what she said.

I thought that as well.

 

[davesparks]

I would reckon the time the lights were fitted, they didn’t have H+S telling you not to use a ladder

Do they tell us not to use ladders now?

 

[Sintra]

What about a painter's mate ladder

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9mWj5Tw2o8

 

[DPG]

What about a painter's mate ladder

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9mWj5Tw2o8

Liking the 3rd leg (she said) for stability. Not sure about being enclosed in the cage though - bit restrictive?