Information Report from the South Wales Fire & Rescue Service.

South Wales Fire & Rescue Service is actively becoming a leading service in developing work systems to comply with working at height duties.

This duty requires safer systems of work whilst working on access ladders/roof ladders for the purposes of rescue and use as a working platform.

Several Fire & Rescue Services have sought to achieve work systems that do not add forces to Angus Sacol Ladders which could apply greater static and dynamic loads over and above the ladders design specification.

South Wales Fire & Rescue Service have assisted in the development of a system of work which satisfies the safety factors of the A.S. Ladders and conforms with EN1147.

The system consists of a set of devices which can be retro fitted to standard FRS ladders to spread the load (load spreaders) and a system of lines and harnesses. When the load spreaders are applied to A.S. Ladders they increase the load capacity of the ladder round and increases the safety factor of such a round or rung.

The ancillary equipment is easily stowed on front line appliances giving an enhanced capability to rescue on every first attendance appliance or to establish a safe system of work for personnel required to work at height on ladders or roofs.

The same equipment can also be utilized as work restraint equipment to again provide a safe system of work for personnel working near water, and uneven terrain etc.

A combination of the Chief Fire Officers Association’s representatives, Rapid Attachment Extrication Ltd and Angus Sacol Fire & Rescue Equipment personnel have worked closely and continue to do so to create a standard generic safer system of work for extension and access ladders and roof ladders which is acceptable to all parties and satisfies the testing regimes. Both stability drop tests and static load tests have been organized between RAE Limited and A.S Ltd and the outcomes are available on this web site.

Rapid Attachment Extrication Ltd is further researching and consulting with equipment suppliers to source rescue rated new devices for easy operations which satisfy the duty of working at height regulations 2005. They are also supported by both practical and theoretical knowledge in both industry and emergency service environments and will be supported by an accredited training organization.