Tall Order For Home Repairs As Scaffolding Is Ditched

[SF Admin]

A Shropshire housing association has ditched scaffolding in favour of using abseiling contractors in a bid to improve services and reduce costs.

The Wrekin Housing Trust said it was an “innovative, effective and cost-saving” method to complete essential repair work on trust properties after a demonstration at the 10-storey high Haughmond Court in Wellington, Telford.

Dave Kendall of Red Environmental Ltd, who undertook the survey for the trust, said: “The advantage of using rope access is that you have no need for scaffolding.

“We can climb and abseil down in places where you can’t erect scaffolding or use cherry pickers.”

Mr Kendall said residents were informed before the experiment took place to make sure they were happy with it.

He said using rope instead of scaffolding was considerably cheaper.

Dale Heaton, of Wrekin Housing Trust, said the exercise certainly attracted some surprised looks from passers-by.

He added: “This was an interesting and informative demonstration and we will give serious consideration to the use of rope access. On the face of it this service could be a safe, cost effective method of carrying out repair work.”

Source: Shropshire Star

 

[grim72]

Probably true but only on a very limited number of activities?

 

[numbnuts]

not really an issue,were safe boys and girls,how long have you got before your legs go numb,ten mins,like to see them replace a lintel.

 

[HatterScaff]

Safety at Whatever the cost hey!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[brandy]

Where's his toeboards.

 

[Garry Adams]

LOLooo aye, Id like to see them replace a Lintel---rake out and render a damp patch---replace guttering ect---it all well and good employing a Team of Rope Access Techs---however, you would have to Train them on the Task too---i.e. Brickie, Roughcaster, Plumber, Window Installer, ect,ect,ect...

Their havin a Laugh init :nuts:

 

[Spunkywads26]

Would be interested to see this in a deprived council estate when some scally opens a window with a pair of sissors

 

[ChrisEng]

Rope Access

Hi

When I worked at T5 they had to use this for one job, but it was the solution of last resort.

The had a hierachy of risk reduction for access.

1. Design out access with permanent access or no access needed.
2. Use of mechanical access - cherry picker, MEWP, etc.
3. Access scaffolding or towers
4. Rope access

Not sure how the use of rope access would work out as a safe method of access when alternative safe methods are available.

Cost reduction should not be considered if it increases the risks.

At the end of the day hanging on the end of one or two pieces of rope has got to limit the types of work that can be undertaken.

Rope access been around for years and never taken off.

Chris Eng

 

[brandy]

Whatever happened to the cradles. Used to be part of the job with a lot of scaff firms. Have'nt hung one for years. I know it's specialist work now. Any scaffs on here worked on them. ?

 

[scaffarobbo]

Used to do cradles with SGB until a few safety issues came up . Some character thought it a laugh to cut a cable and on another occasion someone nicked all the counter weights . Don`t know what these dudes tie their knots to but they better have someone watching them .

 

[Garry Adams]

brandy

My Brother and I worked 1 1/2 Days with Skyform---we just wanted to sus out the Cradle set up---the only bad bit was humfffin the counter weights up the last couple of floors to the roofs of the Multi's...

Skyform System was simple enough---set up out riggers, set counter weights, rig cables to motors and erect the gondola's---

 

[brandy]

brandy

My Brother and I worked 1 1/2 Days with Skyform---we just wanted to sus out the Cradle set up---the only bad bit was humfffin the counter weights up the last couple of floors to the roofs of the Multi's...

Skyform System was simple enough---set up out riggers, set counter weights, rig cables to motors and erect the gondola's---

Yeah weights were a killer. Remember once a gang instead of getting them up used concrete blocks that were on the roof as ballast for the rig. Only problem the brickies used them as well. The story i heard was, the cradle guys inspected the rig before they started. (were'nt they lucky) A lot of choice words flew in all directions, and a few p45's followed.

 

[Garry Adams]

PMSL---aye, yi get a few laughs in this game eh---aye, it was weights that pissed us off---good experience though---they use Cradles Offshore on some jobs---they using them on a Load of High Rise in Aberdeen at the Moment---raking out and Rendering Damp Patched---good job the Cradel Crew checked out the Balist eh---or there would have been a few damp patches in the Coveralls LOLooo WWWoooooooooooooooooooooooooosh :nuts:

 

[Dave_Ja_Vu]

Total bowllocks.

The only kind of work you can carry out doing this is investigative work.

It would be impossible to do any 'actual' works safely. Suspension trauma is another issue or suspension syncope as the boffins like to call it now.

How you going to hold materials safely and carry out any works?
What about materials falling?
You would certainly need crash decking with an egress point for the abseiler at least if working over public areas.

Total bowlocks.

 

[aom]

Total bowllocks.

The only kind of work you can carry out doing this is investigative work.

It would be impossible to do any 'actual' works safely. Suspension trauma is another issue or suspension syncope as the boffins like to call it now.

How you going to hold materials safely and carry out any works?
What about materials falling?
You would certainly need crash decking with an egress point for the abseiler at least if working over public areas.

Total bowlocks.

Obviously agree with that dave ja vu, but these kind of restrictions seem only applicable to the scaffs, every other man and his dog can do what they like. Same old story, cash is king and the scaff's are first to get booted off the job.