91Èȱ¬

What Can Go Wrong?

• Manual handling injury – they can be heavy and awkward to erect and position
• Trapping injury – fingers and hands can get caught in the sliding sections
• Falls from height - you could fall from one if you lose your balance / footing, it collapses or overturns, or if it is struck (e.g. by a vehicle)
• Struck by falling objects – items may fall from the ladder pod or it could collapse.

Legal/91Èȱ¬ Requirements

• Ensure work at height is properly planned and organised
• Those involved in work at height are competent
• Risks from work at height are assessed, and appropriate work equipment is selected and used
• Equipment used for work at height is properly inspected and maintained. 

Control Measures

Planning your work at height

• Through risk assessment decide whether a ladder pod is the most suitable means of working/ filming at height.
• Source the ladder pod from a reputable supplier – avoid ‘home-made’ versions
• Ladder pods need to be supervised by a competent person – they should know how to safely erect it, know it's load bearing capability, inspect it before use and supervise those using it.
• Those using it need to be fit and well, and must not have a fear of heights.

Ladder pod erection / dismantling

• Locate ladder pods away from pedestrian or vehicular routes, or other obstructions.
• Minimise the distance of carry - move it in sections rather than as a complete structure.
• At least three fit and strong persons will be needed to erect, move and dismantle it. 
• Whilst they can stand on uneven ground, they must be stable and the top plate level.
• Once erected, ensure safety ties and locks are in place to prevent collapse.

Ladder pod use

• Those climbing the ladder pod are to wear sturdy footwear with good grips
• Items which could fall should be secured in zipped pockets, bags or be tethered
• Raise and lower equipment on to the ladder pod by passing it from hand to hand – all should maintain 3 points of contact at all times.
• Except for those needing to 'foot' the ladder pod, maintain an exclusion zone around the base of the ladder pod. 
• Sound/ vision cables should be managed to prevent them being snagged/ pulled
• Once persons are aloft, the ladder pod must not be adjusted or moved
• Minimise length of time spent aloft - ideally this should not be more than 30 minutes at a time. 
• Do not tie-in the ladder pod - should it fall/ collapse, it is best to be thrown or jump clear.
• Avoid using the ladder pod in high winds or particularly wet/ cold conditions.

Documentation

• Ensure that you have assessed work at height risks in your programme risk assessment, including identifying any deviations from recognised good practice described above.

Division Specific Issues

• No division specific issues.

FAQs/Did You Know? 

• Falls from height regularly top the list of causes of serious workplace accidents.
• As a rough guide for an unsecured ladder-pod, the maximum height should not exceed x2 it’s base spread dimension.
• Ladder pods come in various designs, some with simple rungs, others with adjustable platforms to stand on.