"Ade" wrote in message
...
The EU directive text regarding the use of ladders says:
Page 137

Quote: 4.2.1. Ladders must be so positioned as to ensure their stability
during use. Portable ladders must rest on a stable, strong,
suitably-sized,
immobile footing so that the rungs remain horizontal. Suspended ladders
must
be attached in a secure manner and, with the exception of rope ladders, so
that they cannot be displaced and so that swinging is prevented.

4.2.2. The feet of portable ladders must be prevented from
slipping during use by securing the stiles at or near their upper or lower
ends, by any anti-slip device or by
any other arrangement of equivalent effectiveness. Ladders
used
for access must be long enough to protrude sufficiently beyond the access
platform, unless other measures have been taken to ensure a firm handhold.
Interlocking ladders and extension ladders must be used so that the
different sections are prevented from moving relative to one another.
Mobile
ladders must be prevented from moving before they are stepped on.




166 pages of waffle, which from a layman's point of view is vague and
difficult to interpret, why don't they just cut to the chase and say what is
and is not illegal in a single page. I'm quoting verbatim from the actual
programme..."Yes it is a European directive, and as from next summer
cleaning windows from a ladder will be illegal".

On Sun, 12 Dec 2004 17:00:21 +0000, ivan wrote:

[SNIP]

166 pages of waffle, which from a layman's point of view is vague and
difficult to interpret, why don't they just cut to the chase and say what is
and is not illegal in a single page. I'm quoting verbatim from the actual
programme..."Yes it is a European directive, and as from next summer
cleaning windows from a ladder will be illegal".

Sounds like that none existent meat hygiene regulation that the
Conservatives where harking on about a couple of months ago.

The problem with the press in this country is they like to take any E.U.
directive out of all context, and exaggerate them as much as they can.
What we have here is a commonsense directive about safe working at heights
i.e. above floor/ground level. They are legislating that you must follow
best practise. Only a fool hard idiot or someone being pressured by a
boss that wants to cut corners would do otherwise. All I see here is
better protection for workers.

Move along, no story and nothing to see.

JAB.

--
Jonathan A. Buzzard Email: jonathan (at) buzzard.me.uk
Northumberland, United Kingdom. Tel: +44 1661-832195

This is a bit irrelevant, but I'm curious.
I always thought it was "the thin end of the wedge". It seems that
"edge" is used a lot. It sounds a bit odd to me, the rhyme sounds
clunky.

Discuss...

Lakeuk wrote:




amazingly it looks like it's true !

http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/forum/1289760801.html

Nothing surprises me with the E.U. they are a bunch of unelected prats.

Aztech wrote:

Quote: 4.2.1. Ladders must be so positioned as to ensure their stability
during use. Portable ladders must rest on a stable, strong, suitably-sized,
immobile footing so that the rungs remain horizontal. Suspended ladders must
be attached in a secure manner and, with the exception of rope ladders, so
that they cannot be displaced and so that swinging is prevented.


Hrm, why would the 'operative' about to climb the ladder fail to check any of
the above, or wilfully put himself in danger? Seems like a vague way of
legislating common sense.


Because they like to think they got control, they bring in laws for the
sake of bringing them in.
this is the way those lot in the E.u works.

"Jonathan Buzzard" wrote in message
. ..
On Sun, 12 Dec 2004 17:00:21 +0000, ivan wrote:

[SNIP]

166 pages of waffle, which from a layman's point of view is vague and
difficult to interpret, why don't they just cut to the chase and say
what is
and is not illegal in a single page. I'm quoting verbatim from the
actual
programme..."Yes it is a European directive, and as from next summer
cleaning windows from a ladder will be illegal".

Sounds like that none existent meat hygiene regulation that the
Conservatives where harking on about a couple of months ago.

The problem with the press in this country is they like to take any E.U.
directive out of all context, and exaggerate them as much as they can.
What we have here is a commonsense directive about safe working at heights
i.e. above floor/ground level. They are legislating that you must follow
best practise. Only a fool hard idiot or someone being pressured by a
boss that wants to cut corners would do otherwise. All I see here is
better protection for workers.

Move along, no story and nothing to see.

So what you're saying is that after next summer window cleaners can carry on
as normal and raise two fingers to the new legislation.. i.e. "if I want to
risk 'my own neck' by climbing up a ladder, 'that's my business' and
absolutely nothing to do with you old chum"?



JAB.

--
Jonathan A. Buzzard Email: jonathan (at) buzzard.me.uk
Northumberland, United Kingdom. Tel: +44 1661-832195

ivan wrote:
]
So what you're saying is that after next summer window cleaners can carry on
as normal and raise two fingers to the new legislation.. i.e. "if I want to
risk 'my own neck' by climbing up a ladder, 'that's my business' and
absolutely nothing to do with you old chum"?


It is right, it is up to the person on the ladder as long as they are
not forced into it.
Too many laws being put into force for our own good.
Well they think it is for our own good.

"Ad C" wrote in message
...
ivan wrote:
]
So what you're saying is that after next summer window cleaners can
carry on
as normal and raise two fingers to the new legislation.. i.e. "if I want
to
risk 'my own neck' by climbing up a ladder, 'that's my business' and
absolutely nothing to do with you old chum"?


It is right, it is up to the person on the ladder as long as they are
not forced into it.
Too many laws being put into force for our own good.
Well they think it is for our own good.


Remember that the overwhelming majority of window cleaners are
self-employed, if they have to secure a ladder at every window they have to
clean then the whole thing could well become totally impractical and will
probably put them out of a job, I just can't see how it's going to be
possible to enforce this kind of legislation.

"As I'm sure most will have heard by now, the UK will soon adopt European
Directive 2001/45/EC also known as the Temporary Work at Height Directive.

We have discussed its impact on the window cleaning industry in general,
noting that broadly speaking, later this year the use of Unsecured Ladders
for window cleaning will be against the law.

(A number of other EU member states have gone even further, for example the
Dutch government have banned the use of ladders completely, even for
"Access")"

Ad C wrote:
Lakeuk wrote:




amazingly it looks like it's true !

http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/forum/1289760801.html

Nothing surprises me with the E.U. they are a bunch of unelected
prats.

So the elections for European MPs passed you by unnoticed then?
--
Alex

"I laugh in the face of danger"
"Then I hide until it goes away"

www.drzoidberg.co.uk
www.sffh.co.uk
www.upce.org.uk

On Mon, 13 Dec 2004 11:28:52 -0000, Dr Zoidberg wrote:



Ad C wrote:
Lakeuk wrote:




amazingly it looks like it's true !

http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/forum/1289760801.html

Nothing surprises me with the E.U. they are a bunch of unelected
prats.

So the elections for European MPs passed you by unnoticed then?

Who have very little to do with the stupid directives coming out of
Brussels.

--

Regards

Dave Saville

NB Remove no-spam- for good email address