HI all, First post for me, I'm after some advice from you more experienced guys with regard to working on slopes.
A bit of background, the work is in a Country Park with an ancient motte and bailey. The Motte is a 35degree slope which stands 60Ft high, there are also several other slopes of varying height of a similar slope. Up until now I have managed these areas with Brushcutter and Crampons, and the whole site is approx 60 hours of HARD graft. I am a volunteer and do not get paid for this (currently)
I have been tasked to find a technical solution to maintain these areas a minimum of 4 times a year, whilst abiding by Health and Safety regs. I have been researching this as far as i can (remember i am a volunteer and not a professional ) and from what i have seen, it is difficult to justify having a man working on the slope with powered equipment. This being the case, it seems the only real option is to use remote Control mowers such as the Ransomes Spider, which is cost prohibiting.
Is there any advise you guys can give regarding working on slopes and any precautions that need to be taken regarding this work, is it possible to continue with brushcutter and fall arrest equipment such as inertia reels? Or any other equipment suitable for the task?
Thanks in advance guys
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www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/meetings/iacs/aiac/030210/amenity-landscapin...
it dos not state about strimmer work on steep slopes but there is a chart for differant machines and slopes
when you do this work i hope you do not work alone also i would not want to be stood/work on a banking for 60 hrs
you can hire banking mowers or hier a contractor in to do the work that has one of thees types of mowers
also the owner of the land has a responsibility for helth and safety even though you are a volunteer
Thanks for the reply David, and the accompanying slide show, very useful.
Is there a max angle recommended for brushcutter work? I have had conflicting advice on this and cant find anything in writing. I was told that H&S were supposed to be regulating on it this year, but it has been delayed.
I have on occasion been lone working, when under time constraints, but understand that this should be avoided. Also the 60 hours are split over several weeks, generally 2 consecutive 6 or 7 hour days per week.
I have looked at banking mowers, but due to the steepness of the bank, feel that control of a such a heavy machine may be difficult.
I am looking to possibly take on the contract myself for a small charge as it is a charity trust with little money.
How about a couple of you doing a rope climbing course?
Just because it's been in the news quite often, but it's what they do to maintain the cliffs at St Michaels Mount
Hi Glen,
Ropes have been suggested, they will obviously help with regards to the fall risk, however the issue is using powered equipment such as brush cutter in this situation.
i have been looking at personal fall protection the inertia reel and harness set up as there would be no concern over trailing ropes etc getting caught in cutter, but am wary that a fall may not be off sufficient force to activate such a system since the load will not be instant like in a drop off an edge, but gradual due to acceleration down the slope. Also being strapped to a running brush cutter ain't ideal.
Is there systems that cater for this situation???
Sorry Martin, I don't actually know much about it, I was kinda thinking out loud.
I do know a couple of people on the mount so I asked if they used the strimmers while attached to the ropes or if they were merely for access. Here's the answer
"A bit of both - generally trying to work from somewhere we had a firm standing point but quite often with the ropes under tension"
So definitely something to consider I would have thought.
Cheers for that Glen, appreciate the help, will look into it.
I attended a HSE seminar many, many years ago (may even have been that series) and someone was there from Thames Water ( I think ) who had similar problems around the steep QEII reservoirs at Staines /Heathrow next to the M25.
They did multiple Risk Assesekents and could not find an acceptable solution ( this was before recent technology made Remote Banks mowers available ) and settled on a more low tech, environmentally friendly solution - they installed several flocks of sheep to keep the grass short and provide natural fertiliser !
So, that’s the reason you see sheep next the m25 under the LHR takeoff runways.
Failing that, there are several H&S consultancies around that specialise in our sector - maybe that’s a route you need to take - have someone qualified come up with a suitable Work Method that reduces/eliminates risk ?
Cheers Gary
Some good advise there.
I have suggested the Graze option and personally think it is the best answer. However this enviably throws up its own set of problems due to it being a public space and the care and welfare of the animals, however i am still researching this possibility.
Here a a few pics of what i have to deal with.
Cheers Sav
Wow. Yes..... that is some challenge with many, many H&S issues.
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