[simon knight]

Thanks for the advise guys, although this wasn't meant to be a trad versus wfp thread :

Anyway from your replies I've learnt:

1) If it's slippery don't do it...or if you must then trad with pole as best as possible (Thanks Vince).

2) Get a ladder mate....thanks but I can't be bothered with more gear.

3) Patio cleaner from local garden centre...again good advise but still don't want to carrying more gear.

4) Use dry scrim under feet as it reduces risk of slip! This is what I wanted to hear...many thanks Elite Mike

Right, off to buy some more scrim...

[Feen]

Good luck Simon, but I can't help but say I think scrims are not the answer I'm sure they help, but....

[karlosdaze]

4) Use dry scrim under feet as it reduces risk of slip! This is what I wanted to hear...many thanks Elite Mike

Right, off to buy some more scrim...

Reduce slip is not as good as won't slip.
Oh well.......... it's your neck. If you live - do you really think your window cleaning round will still be there when you get back after your broken ankle/neck/hip? Either get the proper tools or a wfp - please!

[Chris Galloway]

4) Use dry scrim under feet as it reduces risk of slip! This is what I wanted to hear...many thanks Elite Mike

Right, off to buy some more scrim...

Reduce slip is not as good as won't slip.
Oh well.......... it's your neck. If you live - do you really think your window cleaning round will still be there when you get back after your broken ankle/neck/hip? Either get the proper tools or a wfp - please!

Let people make their own mistakes. You cant force things, if people cant be bothered for their own safety or for the good of their "professional" business or even their families then thats their problem, not mine or yours.

Still if they do have an accident, then there is more work out there for the rest of us

[David Slater]

Did a house today and the back had decking...slippery as hell!

I read somewhere on the forum that scrim under the ladder feet helps to reduce backslip. I tried it and I must say the ladder felt pretty stable.

Questions are: Was this a sense of false security? Also my scrim was dry...or is damp/wet better? Lastly would a bit of micro cloth do just as well?

Thanks

The answer has to be - dont do it!!!

You have correctly indentified the hazard (the slippy decking).

Putting things under the feet of the ladders couldnt really be classed as controlling or removing the hazard.

Lets presume you continue up the ladders anyway and you fall:

The householder would not doubt put in a defence of -  volenti non fit injuria (The risk was willingly accepted) as would your insurance company.

No doubt your insurance company would refuse to pay your loss of earnings or any damage you caused.

The householder would not be held liable for any injury you sustained. You may still be prosecuted by the HSE/LEHO if you affected 'others by your actions'

You could be sued for Negligence;

Negligence is   - ‘ the lack of reasonable care or conduct which results in the injury (or financial loss) of or to another’

‘You must take reasonable care to avoid acts or omissions which you reasonably foresee would be likely to injure your neighbour’ (Lord Aitkin 1932)

Not only could YOU be injured....YOU could be held responsible for any damage you cause while falling and your insurance company would tell you to 'eff off' and pay for the damage yourself!!

Offer to clean the decking and tell them WHY

[Andrew McCann]

Sorry but I can't stay quiet on this one.

Almost every working day I speak to at least one window cleaner who has had a bad accident as a result of a fall from a ladder. Most for want of better words "get away" with smashed ankles, heels etc but there are a lot worse than that.

I don't believe that the statistics show even a small percentage of serious injuries from ladder accidents. This thread shows why in my opinion. Putting scrim on wet decking for example. The "Can't be bothered" attitude to carrying a small potentially life saving piece of kit like the laddermate again shows why these accidents happen.

If it isn't safe to do it then DON'T DO IT!!! or if it can be made safe by using safety aids USE THEM!!

Don't get me wrong.. this isn't a dig at ladders. They are safe when USED PROPERLY!!   


Andrew

[Andrew McCann]

Errrr is this thread a wind up???     

[KLEEN-ZONE]

HSE are going to be well impressed ( not) when they visit after a fall and you say, I had a bit of scrim under the ladder. Hardly a safety device! 

I also use trad methods and don't go without my ladder mate whether wet or dry ground.

Two minutes to get another bit of kit from van or six weeks in hospital .

[Steve B]

I too had similar to this and was given advice about ladder safety. Ladder Limpet by laddatec.com was advised and is the best bit of kit you can have. If I go up a ladder, ladder Limpet is always attached to the ladder. I feel safer and more confident about ladder work now.

I am very grateful for the sound advice I received from experienced members here on this forum and by doing so I now have some experience that I can now pass on to others.

I think we all suffer at times from the "it won't happen to me" attitude but this is a serious mistake, never ever compromise on safety.

If you don't wish to take your own safety seriously just spare a thought for how upset your children will be sitting at your hospital bed or worse at your graveside.

It's not always about you but the people that depend upon you.

[simon knight]

OK Guys, you are all reading off the same page so it's fairly obvious that I'm being a nincompoop (not for the 1st time ) so I'll take your advice. No scrim under the feet!!!

If it's slippery I'll trad pole as best I can...or not do it at all and knock a bit off the price.

My God you guys moan but I get the impression that you really do care...so thanks

[elite mike]

OK Guys, you are all reading off the same page so it's fairly obvious that I'm being a nincompoop (not for the 1st time ) so I'll take your advice. No scrim under the feet!!!

If it's slippery I'll trad pole as best I can...or not do it at all and knock a bit off the price.

My God you guys moan but I get the impression that you really do care...so thanks

hi simon

i knew that would get them going

but i have used scrim on many occasions over the years, just lucky i suppose

i should of added, that i used poles, if i thought it to dodgey

stay lucky

mike

[simon knight]

OK Guys, you are all reading off the same page so it's fairly obvious that I'm being a nincompoop (not for the 1st time ) so I'll take your advice. No scrim under the feet!!!

If it's slippery I'll trad pole as best I can...or not do it at all and knock a bit off the price.

My God you guys moan but I get the impression that you really do care...so thanks

hi simon

i knew that would get them going

but i have used scrim on many occasions over the years, just lucky i suppose

i should of added, that i used poles, if i thought it to dodgey

stay lucky

mike

I tell you Mike some of these guys are worse than my mum ...But their hearts are in the right place ...which is worth diamonds in my book!

Just 8 working days before my 2 weeks off (away from risking my scraggy neck up ladders)...can't wait as haven't had any time off since summer and feeling stale and weary

Have a good weekend Guv'

Simon

[trevor perry]

i hate to put a spanner in the works but on a lot of surfaces a damp scrim works better than a lot of the so called anti slip devices i  know because i have tried them but as said the health and safety officers wont see it that way if you have a fall.

[trevor perry]

Not question it works 99% of the time, but should you do it?

probably not but as said it works better than a lot of the anti slip devices so  maybe these shouldnt be used either.

[Peter Fogwill]

Did a house today and the back had decking...slippery as hell!

I read somewhere on the forum that scrim under the ladder feet helps to reduce backslip. I tried it and I must say the ladder felt pretty stable.

Questions are: Was this a sense of false security? Also my scrim was dry...or is damp/wet better? Lastly would a bit of micro cloth do just as well?

Thanks

Simon If you couldn't use, or didn't want to use a water fed pole, you could have always done the dangerous windows with a pole set up with a squeegee and applicator on it.

Peter

[Feen]

i hate to put a spanner in the works but on a lot of surfaces a damp scrim works better than a lot of the so called anti slip devices i  know because i have tried them

What you tried them to the point where they slip I don't think so. Maybe you mean you've tried the scrim and not fallen off Different bucketful of scrims entirely.