We once spotted a truly alarming work at height setup out in the wild – see above! What we saw wasn’t just unsafe, it was a clear example of how things can go catastrophically wrong when proper planning, training and equipment are ignored.
In someone’s front garden, a scaffold tower had been erected, but instead of being used correctly, it had a non-compliant latched ladder attached to it. Perched precariously on the platform of that scaffold was a podium, strapped down with little more than blue nylon rope. If that wasn’t enough, timber boards had been added on top to give the worker just a bit more reach. We’re not quite sure the image does all this justice!
Wobbly And Unstable
At first glance, it looked like a pile of random equipment hastily strung together in a way that showed zero consideration for safety standards or common sense. None of the elements appeared to be properly secured to each other or to the building. The entire structure looked wobbly, unstable and completely unfit for purpose.
So, how did this happen? While we can only speculate, the most likely explanation is that someone agreed to do a job such as painting a high window without planning out how to do it safely. They probably turned up with a van full of gear, realised none of it could reach high enough on its own, and made the dangerous decision to stack it all up and hope for the best. Alone on the job and under pressure, they gambled with their own life and possibly the lives of others.
Dangerous And Illegal
This kind of setup is not just frowned upon by us safety professionals, it’s outright dangerous and illegal. Regulations around work at height exist for a reason, and that reason is falls remain one of the leading causes of workplace deaths in the UK. And stacking equipment like this, tying it with rope, and hoping for the best is a textbook example of what not to do.
The most immediate risk here is obvious. The scaffold tower wasn’t stabilised, the ladder wasn’t secure, the podium was never designed to sit on top of scaffolding, and timber boards are never an acceptable way to extend the reach. With everything loosely tied together, any slight movement could cause enough of a shift to bring the whole setup crashing down.
Beyond The Immediate Danger
There’s also another issue people may initially overlook in the form of insurance. If that worker had fallen or injured a member of the public, no insurance policy would cover it. There would be no compensation for injuries, loss of earnings or damage caused. The worker would likely be personally liable and face tens of thousands of pounds in claims.
This incident is a grim example of what happens when proper training isn’t in place, when the right equipment isn’t provided, and when safety is treated as an afterthought. No job is worth risking your life, or someone else’s, for that matter. Work at height must always start with a plan, the right equipment, and a refusal to take shortcuts.
To find out more about regular training for work at height, contact Ability International today.
