16.04.2014

Mid rail perch

Spotted in the UK two men using a boom lift for demolition work, with little thought to safe use.

The men, working in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan, from a 45ft articulated boom lift, look as though they are demolishing an old brick building. Not only are they not wearing harnesses, but one of them is standing nonchalantly on the mid rail with little sense of the risk should his colleague cause the platform to jerk or part of the wall to collapse onto the platform. Thank goodness they were not working in a more public area.
Please register to see all images

Standing on the guardrail

In the words of our correspondent: “Afternoon, I thought I would share these photos of how not to use a platform, it is still happening! Even after speaking to one of the lads, asking if they had received training etc... ‘yeah’ was his response - ‘why you from HSE? Not going to fall it’s okay’. Just after me asking the guy on the ground, one operative standing on the handrail dropped his sledge hammer, unbelievable!”

“I have tried to contact the company but the phone is just ringing, no answer.”
Please register to see all images

A closer look

Vertikal Comment

While these characters might claim that its their life and how they work should be of no concern to others, they will not be the ones to clear up the mess if they were to fall. While innocent parties, such as the rental company and possibly the developer will come under scrutiny to find fault etc… And even if they know that they played no part in the incident, a fatality can be traumatic for the people and companies involved.

These two have done well to select a platform for the job, and are using the platform rotation feature exactly as intended – all good and well, but are clearly dismissive of the fact that the platform on a boom lift can and will ‘bounce’ and if it does could easily throw them out of the platform – especially if you are balancing on the mid rail.