No matter how experienced you think you are when it comes to working at height or how many times you may have used a safety harness, you should always check their suitability before using one. There have been many instances all over the world of experienced workers falling to their deaths or becoming severely injured as a result of faulty safety equipment.
Here at SLG, we strive to make working conditions as safe as possible by providing the highest quality safety equipment available. Our range of safety harnesses includes a variety of specialist types, suitable for a selection of tasks performed at height. These include rescue harnesses, fall arrest harnesses and multipurpose harnesses. All of which offer select features and abilities that aim to increase your safety and the safety of people around you. However, regardless of the type of harness you choose to use for your specific task, you should still conduct a thorough check to ensure your safety and the safety of the people around you is not put into jeopardy.
As with all personal protective equipment, safety harnesses must be examined at least every 12-months and should also be subject to pre-use checks, detailed periodic inspections and interim inspections. To make things a little easier for you, below we outline the steps on how to carry out a pre-use check to ensure your harness is safe to use, along with a number of often-missed checkpoints.
Once all of these inspections are completed and you are satisfied with the condition of each part, your safety harness should be good to go. However, as we mentioned above, there are several checks that are often missed which may lead to potential accidents. We outline these below:
By following the steps above, you will no doubt reduce the likelihood of accidents occurring when working at height. If you work at height often and require new, quality equipment that will ensure your safety, then why not take a look at our collection of safety harnesses?! We have a harness to suit every task and any budget, available for hire as well as full purchase. So, whether you need a harness for a one-off job or are looking to update your arsenal, SafetyLiftinGear is the place for you.
Browse Our Safety Harnesses >
If you would like more information on our range of safety harnesses, any individual product or how to check a safety harness before use, then please do not hesitate to contact a member of our team today!
When it comes to picking the right type of loft ladder, we know how hard it can be. There are several factors that you need to take into consideration, such the size of your loft entrance, the distance of your entrance from the ground and the functionalities that you’d like and expect from the ladder. To make things a little easier for you, we run through the different types of loft ladders that are available to you and provide a brief breakdown of each.
Buying a loft ladder makes accessing your extra storage space a lot easier and safer. The ladder which you ultimately end up buying is going to depend on your personal preference, space available to you and how often you intend on using it. So, let’s take a look at your options!
By far the simplest ladders to install and use to access your loft are sliding loft ladders. These are usually attached to the joists inside your loft and tend to come as two or three-section ladders. The majority of modern homes in the UK will have a loft opening big enough to meet the minimum sizes specified, or will easily be able to extend it to fit. These type of loft ladders do not usually come with a loft hatch supplied but can come with a kit that enables you to convert your existing hatch into a hinged one. Budget sliding loft ladders manufactured from lightweight aluminium and are designed for light usage. They can sometimes be a lot noisier than their timber counterparts, but do the required job for a really competitive price.
These type of loft ladders are great for saving space and bring a good balance of form and function. They look fantastic and can fit into most loft hatches, even the smallest of sizes. The standout benefit of using a telescopic loft ladder is their outstanding value, as their simple design results in a much more attractive price.
Folding loft ladders are another, highly-popular type of ladder that is used by households to access their loft as a result of their simplicity. Here, the ladder simply folds up, usually in two or three sections which end up stacked on top of each other on the left hatch once fully closed. By far the most popular and practical option used by homeowners is the timber folding ladder, due to their quieter, smoother and more secure nature in comparison to aluminium loft ladders. The latter can sometimes ‘bend’ or ‘flex’ as you stand on a and climb up them which can be quite concerning for some.
High-quality timber loft ladders usually come with a frame and a loft hatch attached, ready to be installed to your loft opening. They will contain locks which hold the ladder in either a closed or locked position and are usually ‘sprung’ to make them lower or raise. You will be required to make your loft hatch the size needed to fir your ladder, however, most have different hatch sizes that you can choose from to suit your specific dimensions.
Electric loft ladders are another type of ladder that you can install to access your loft. These are available in two different forms; semi-automatic and fully electric and tend to work in the same way as folding loft ladders, albeit via remote control.
So, these are the different types of loft ladders available for you to choose from to gain access to your loft. Whichever one you choose will be determined by a variety of factors, none more so than personal preference and needs. Here at SLG, we supply our very own range of ladders that include some of the variations mentioned up. These are fully adjustable, coming in three different lengths and host of other beneficial features. You can browse our collection below!
Our Loft Ladders >
If you are interested on any one of our loft ladders and would like to speak to a member of our team regarding a purchase or would like to learn more about a particular product for your loft, then please do not hesitate to get in touch with us today.
We have reduced the prices of our 2.6mtr, 3.2mtr and 3.8mtr telescopic ladder by up to 15%!
You can now purchase our best-selling telescopic ladder for £46.78, £58.78 and £69.58 respectively when purchased online – amazing prices for a ladder suited to a variety of jobs and applications.
Our aluminium telescopic ladder is made from high-quality aluminium alloy, providing a strong, reliable product that is also lightweight and easy to transport. Perfect for a range of tasks in a variety of environments. Our telescopic ladder:
Order Your Telescopic Ladder >
You can take a closer look at our aluminium telescopic ladder in action below:
For more information on our new reduced prices on our telescopic ladder, contact a member of the SLG team today by calling 0117 9381 600 or emailing sales@safetyliftingear.com.
Different types of work require different safety measures. Therefore, it is vital that when working at height, you are properly equipped to complete the specific task-at-hand. However, with so many different working environments, operations and equipment, it can be a challenge to know exactly what type of equipment is needed for what task. Here, we break down the features of working at height, what is required when doing so and the several different working conditions, providing the necessary equipment needed to carry out work in the safest possible way.
Managing work at height follows a hierarchy of controls – avoid, prevent, restrain, arrest, which begins with the question “can the work be done safely from the ground?” Fall arrest equipment should only be considered as a last resort if other safety equipment cannot be used. For situations where work cannot be completed from the ground collective protection equipment such as nets and railings must be considered first.
A common solution is utilising scaffolding or mobile platform (MEWP) that provide easy and safe access at height. If none of the above methods can be implemented, individual fall protection equipment safeguarding from falls must be used. i.e. restraint equipment.
The basic features of individual fall protection equipment protecting against a fall from height are:
RESTRAINT:
FALL ARREST:
All fall protection systems must comprise three basic components:
As mentioned, different work conditions consist of different height safety requirements and procedures as a result of the environment they occur in and the dangers involved. Here we take a look and break down the safety requirements for working on a roof, fragile surfaces, ladders and scaffolds and the correct equipment that is needed to carry out work safely.
All work on roofs is highly dangerous, even a job that can take only minutes to complete consist of potentially fatal risks. Therefore, proper precautions are needed to control all the risks that are involved. The individuals managing and conducting the work need to be properly trained, competent and must fully plan the work to be completed in relation to the main risks, causes of accidents and equipment required.
Falls from roofs, either through fragile surfaces and openings or from roof edges can occur on both commercial and domestic projects as well as new build and refurbishment jobs. Many deaths happen every year involving smaller buildings working on the roof of domestic dwellings, which tend to fall under two types:
Work on a fragile surface roof requires a combination of stagings, guard rails, fall arrest and safety nets slung beneath and close to the roof. All roofs should be treated as fragile until they have been confirmed as not. Fragile rooflights are also a hazard as some may be difficult to spot in certain light conditions or maybe hidden by paint. These areas must be protected by using either barriers or covers that are secured and labelled with a warning. Here at SLG, we provide a number of products that ensure when working on sloping and flat roofs, you are completely protected against falls. You can view our best products for working on flat roofs below.
Fall Arrest Harness > Fall Arrest Block >
Every time a ladder is used to carry out work at height, a pre-use check needs to be conducted to ensure that it is safe for use. This should be carried out by:
The benefit of carrying out pre-use checks is to identify any immediate or serious defects that can cause an accident. The areas of most concern are the ladder’s stiles, feet and rungs. Once this has been completed and you are satisfied that the ladder is in good working condition, you must then ensure that all of the required safety precautions to carry out work whilst on the ladder are in place, including wearing the right equipment. At SafetyLiftinGear, we provide a range of secure ladder safety equipment that ensures your safety whilst working at height, including quality fall protection kits.
Ladder Safety Kit Level 1 > Ladder Safety Kit Level 2 >
Tower scaffolds are one method used to prevent a fall when working at height on a sloped roof. The type of scaffold selected needs to be suitable for the work and erected and dismantled by people who have been trained and are competent to do so. However, despite scaffolds existing to prevent a fall, dangers still exist once the scaffold has been set up, with many people injured each year as a result of falling from them. Incidents with scaffolds often occur as a result of dangerous methods of erection or dismantling, defects in the erected scaffold or the scaffold being misused. To ensure maximum safety whilst working on a scaffold, it is recommended that all workers wear appropriate protective equipment, such as specialist scaffold harnesses. You can view ours below!
Scaffold Harness Kit >
When using mobile elevated work platforms such as cherry pickers and access platforms, there are a number of safety precautions that need to be implemented in order to avoid and prevent falls from occurring. Such as:
If all of these things are adhered to, then the likelihood of a fall or serious consequences as a result of a fall occurring is dramatically decreased. You can find our best-selling access platform harness below!
Safety Harness Kit For Access Platform >
In order to avoid potentially fatal falls when working at height, it’s vitally important that you understand the specific requirements of every task you carry out. The working environment needs to be assessed by competent and qualified people, who can identify dangers and hazards before they cause a real accident. When the work is actually being carried out, the importance of wearing the correct equipment as well as setting up the necessary safety precautions cannot be understated. As well as the above products, we supply a whole range of height safety equipment, perfect for a variety of operations at height. You can browse our extensive collection below.
Browse Height Safety Equipment >
If you have any questions regarding our range of height safety equipment or any of the listed products, please do not hesitate to contact us today.
Modular spreader beams are an essential piece of equipment when you need to lift and transport extremely heavy loads!
Typically, slings are the go-to solution to lift loads and equipment. However, when doing so, additional horizontal forces are placed on the sling because its angles are less than 90-degrees. These added forced place stress to the weight that’s being lifted and therefore requires a larger lifting force to safely lift and transport the load.
Modular spreader beams are an excellent bit of kit, as they completely eliminate these horizontal forces by creating a mainly compressive force which is distributed across the lugs that are attached to the load. This allows the spreader beam to carry a great deal of weight compared to its size.
Here are at SafetyLiftinGear, we stock a wide range of modular spreader beams that can lift loads of up to 70 tonnes and are adjustable in length, making them an extremely versatile piece of equipment that can be used for a variety of lifting applications.
Browse our Modular Spreader Beams >
SLG Helps Lift a Dunkirk Little Ship >
SLG Lifts a McGee Digger in London >
Now, we know that purchasing a spreader beam for a lifting job can be a huge investment and as a result, not a viable option for many. Therefore, in order for our range of spreader beams to be more accessible, we offer an easy-to-use rental service that allows organisations and individuals to hire any of our spreader beams for any desired amount of time. So, whether you need a spreader beam for a one-off job or can’t commit to a full purchase, our hire service is the perfect thing for you.
To begin your rental enquiry, follow these simple steps:
Yes, it’s really that simple! A member of our sales team will shortly contact you once your enquiry has been received to provide a quote for your rental period. We offer extremely competitive hire rates to ensure a cost-effective means for your business.
For more information on our modular spreader beam hire service, be sure to get in touch with a member of our sales team today by calling 0117 9381 600 or emailing sales@safetyliftingear.com, we’d be more than happy to help.
Ladders, ladders and more ladders. SafetyLiftinGear are exciting to announce our brand-new collection of premium Little Giant Ladders!
Little Giant Ladder Systems is one of the biggest online ladder suppliers in the world, having created and provided the very best ladder products and exceptional customer service to consumers for more than 10 years. In the 1970s, Harold ‘Hal’ Wing developed what we now know as the strongest, safest and most versatile ladder in the world – the Little Giant Ladder System. The professional-grade, multi-use ladder system was able to be set up in 24 different positions, quickly becoming the most famous ladder in the world. Since then, more ladders have been produced, serving a variety of purposed and functions to allow a range of tasks and applications to be completed efficiently and safely. And now, you can buy one of these outstanding ladder products right here at SafetyLiftinGear – expanding our already extensive range of ladders that are available.
Here is a selection of the Little Giant Ladders that you can purchase with us today:
These Little Giant Safety Steps offer users a unique combination of strength and simplicity – featuring fantastic slip-resistant steps that provide unrivalled comfort and stability. These safety steps have been manufactured with superior, lightweight aerospace-grade aluminium, providing easy transportation and outstanding longevity. Its slim storage depth of just 12cm allows you to store these steps just about anywhere, perfect for loading in the van to take to your next job or keeping in the cupboard ready for when you need them. Engineered for professional and industrial use, the Safety Step can withstand up to 150kg on each step, demonstrating its robustness.
Order Your Little Giant Safety Steps >
These Little Giant Velocity Multi-Purpose Ladders incorporates the latest advances in ladder technology, making them lighter, faster and much easier to use, all without sacrificing the strength, stability and versatility that consumers have come to know and love with the original Little Giant Classic Ladder. Thanks to the new spring-assisted Rapid Lock adjustments, you are now able to set up and adjust the Velocity ladder in seconds! Simply twist the lock to release, adjust the ladder into your desired position then twist the lock back to secure. The patented double-lock hinge and telescoping sides make this a truly multi-use ladder that can be used in a variety of unique combinations!
Order Your Little Giant Velocity Ladder >
Little Giant Ladder’s HyperLite™ SumoStance® is the only extension ladder in the world with Little Giant’s patented SumoStance levelling outrigger system, which more than doubles the ladder’s base width and increases side-tip stability. This extension ladder’s intuitive safety features enable a safe, stable set up for a variety of operations on almost any surface. As a result of their premium manufacture, these extension ladders are lighter than any other manufacturer’s lightest extension ladders, allow easy transportation.
Order Your Little Giant Extension Ladder >
View more Little Giant Ladders >
A roofing company boss has been sentenced to jail after one of his builders fell 30ft to his death whilst working on a £7 million home in Kensington.
The owner of G&L Scaffolding and Roofing, Kevin Leathers, 41, had “flagrantly ignored” safety warnings when father-of-five Jon Currie, 36, was not wearing a harness when he fell, leading to “catastrophic brain damage” and ultimately his death in July 2017.
The experienced scaffolder lost his footing while taking down a temporary roof of corrugated iron panels. Leather pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the health, safety and welfare of employees and was eventually jailed for eight months, having been previously warned about his employees working in dangerous conditions.
Prosecutors stated that Leathers had been sent a letter reminding him of strict health and safety requirements and that his working practices were “unsafe” when his crew were spotted working without safety harnesses. When Mr Currie fell, he and another worker were again not wearing safety harnesses and no risk assessment had been carried out to identify potential dangers. Curries was also not qualified for the job that he was doing that day. Prosecutor stated that Leathers “failed to exercise his duty of care and as a result, Jon Currie died while working for him. Leathers intentionally breached or flagrantly ignored the law.”
Passing sentence, Judge Joanna QC said “after the letter in April, Leather could not have been warned in clearer terms about the dangers of the activities undertaken. He failed to take appropriate steps. If death results from such failures you must expect to receive an immediate prisons sentence.”
Leather was charged with manslaughter by gross negligence after Curries fell working on an extension to a double-storey basement.
This is another example of the extreme dangers faced when work is carried without the required equipment. Here at SafetyLiftinGear, we provide quality, effective height safety equipment including harnesses, lanyard and fall arrest blocks that assure your safety when working at all heights. You can browse our range below!
Our Height Safety Equipment >
For more information on our height safety equipment or to speak to one of our experts about any of our products, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us today by calling 0117 9381 600 or emailing sales@safetyliftingear.com.