The recent case of a painter and decorator who sustained serious injuries falling from height, is a sad reminder of the importance of making sure work is planned and carried out safely.
In this case, homeowners hired the worker’s company to paint the exterior windows, soffit boards and dormer windows on their roof. The painter and decorator was setting up ladders to access the dormer windows when he fell. The fall resulted in him being permanently paralysed from the chest down.
HSE Investigation
The HSE’s subsequent investigation found that the incident could have been prevented if the company had followed the work at height hierarchy of control and if appropriate equipment had been specified. The risk assessment should have identified that ladders were not appropriate equipment as the work was not short duration.
Commenting after the hearing, the HSE Inspector said: “Employers and those in control of any work at height activity must make sure work is properly planned, supervised and carried out by competent people. This includes the right type of equipment for working at height. In this instance, the painting of the soffits and windows was not short duration work and should have been done from appropriate work platforms. Ladders were not the appropriate equipment."
The Easi-Dec Solution
Our Easi-Dec platform provides simple, safe access up to roof line level, whilst spanning building obstructions such as porches and bay windows.
Accessories include a Dormer Kit which allows the platform to be converted to sit on a sloping roof to allow work such as this to be carried out safely .