Re: Stone Shifting 3 | Forum — The Modern Antiquarian

Stonehenge 181

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Stone Shifting 3

Steve Gray Sep 2, 2003 08:35:08

Replying to GordonP

I think your 6m rule is likely to be "old-hat". I was speaking to a builder friend of mine yesterday about health and safety in relation to scaffolding. He said that there is a legal "duty of care" requirement on any structure (temporary or permanent) that can be used by people. This means that whoever erects the stucture can be held liable in law for any injury that somebody using the structure might sustain. He suggested that we talk at a very early stage of the plan to the health and safety inspectorate, let them know that it is a critical part of the project that we maintain historical accuracy as much as possible and ask them for advice on the matter. He said this is much better than going with a finalised plan of our own and having to argue with them.

nigelswift Sep 2, 2003 08:51:28

Replying to Steve Gray

You beat me to it Steve, but I'll post it anyway...

Can’t confirm or deny 6 metres I’m afraid though I know inspectors are encouraged to make their own on the spot assessments based on how they see it, which is why they’re loved so much. A fall from 6 metres would still be very bad so I think we ought to assume they’ll be strict. It’s a real jungle, eg. BS EN 361,363,354,355 and 358 cover full body harnesses, fall arrest systems, lanyards, energy absorbers and work positioning systems and since this will be a high profile job I can imagine them erring on the side of being extremely irritating. There’s also a whole raft of guidelines on erection of falsework here
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/cis56.pdf
I think the plan ought to be to work out the method and then get them to lay out precisely what they want, if they will. Then we can send it to the insurers. One good thing – it’ll be the same Department that was involved with the BBC.
Maybe we should employ a consultant if/when we have the money, and have done with it.