Ladder Too Short!!

Wicked_and_Crazy · 21-12-2010, 12:07

After three weeks of waiting we've just had installations turn up to install a second STB. They ended up leaving without doing anything as the cable needed to pass through the loft. He hadnt got a long enough ladder to reach the loft of a 2 storey house!!!

What made it worse was the fact he was told there would be someone at home every day until the 4th of Jan so when did they try to reschedule the install?? Yes you guessed it, the 4th of Jan!!

**Rob** · 21-12-2010, 13:17

Any rescheuled reinstall would inevitably be booked on the next available basis. Given that so many people want to take time off over the holiday period, I'm not surprised that it's ini the new year.

How high is the loft hatch? As a surveyor I've seen plenty that are stuck iin places that a three metre ladder can't safely reach i.e. over stairs. No doubt you also don't have a suitable ladder to get to the loft, or the installer could have borrowed it.

progers · 21-12-2010, 13:43

I had a similar problem but we did it the other way round; I pushed the cables through the loft wall down to the installer who tacked it to the wall as high as his ladder would reach and left me some twin clips to tack the high bits he couldn't reach (must get round to doing that soon)

Wicked_and_Crazy · 21-12-2010, 13:47

noooo the ladder is required to run the cable up the side of the house. Standard height 2 story house.

The installer wouldnt use my ladder as he's not insured

I was at work and im sure the wife wasnt going to help him too much!!

**Rob** · 21-12-2010, 14:18

Ah then it was an 'elf and safety thing. I suspect most installers will only have ladders that would get to first floor level, not eaves level. Above a certain height all sorts of extra precautions would come into play. It is generally recognised now that little if anything can be done from a ladder more than a storey height. I've even had issues when I've complained to our council about broken traffic lights. Green and amber are easy fix, but the red bulbs are just too high

Wicked_and_Crazy · 21-12-2010, 15:50

perhaps they shouldnt use elfs to do installs

DaiNasty · 21-12-2010, 16:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wicked_and_Crazy

perhaps they shouldnt use elfs to do installs

but that would be sizeist shirley?

gondalio · 21-12-2010, 18:24

lol we don't touch loft work or anything thats even that high, too many health and safety issues. I mean i have been up in lofts and its not the best place to be running cables unless its 6ft tall up there in my case. Not to say i havent gone up there because in some cases you have no choice but it is all down to the installer and whether he deems it safe enough to go up there. best thing to advise is if you or someone can get up there and run the cable up there then we can do the rest that would probably be your only work around

Wicked_and_Crazy · 23-12-2010, 15:35

The issue isnt with the loft, the issue was the installer not being able to drill the wall from the outside to get into the loft due to not having a ladder. I'm perfectly happy to run the cable across the loft for them appart from the fact i'd have to have a day off work when my wife has already taken a day off work for them to do the install.

Was promised they would come back in the afternoon to do it, but no show. Was promised they would call the folloiwng day to make arrangements, no call. Have phoned them since and apparently they're not taking calls due to the weather. Appears the phone must be too cold for them

What a poor state of affairs when a company you want to buy something from cant be bothered to communicate with you. If i hadnt entred a new 12 month agreement a month or so back this shoddy service would make me think of going elsewhere.

jungleguy · 23-12-2010, 23:07

A loft is a 'confined working environment' here are the risks involved in entering such an environment copied and pasted from gov web site

Every year, a number of people are killed and others seriously injured working in confined spaces across a wide range of industries in the UK, from those involving complex plant to simple storage vessels.

Those killed include not only people working in confined spaces but those who try to rescue them without proper training and equipment.

Dangers can arise in confined spaces because of:

* lack of oxygen
* poisonous gas, fume or vapour
* liquids and solids suddenly filling the confined space, or releasing gases into it when disturbed
* fire and explosions
* residues left behind which can give off gas, fume or vapour
* dust
* hot working conditions.

In my opinion it is unreasonable to expect and installer to go into your loft without the necessary training or equipment.

my tongue is firmly in my cheek

jb66 · 24-12-2010, 08:50

I was asked to go under a floor where there was a 2 foot gap to run telephone cables, when I explained it was too small he called me lazy, that I couldn't be bothered and I shouldn't be working for virgin!

I do go up lofts if it makes my life easy but if you damage anything and you work for a contractor it comes out your wages. It's not that they don't want to it's sometimes it's just not worth the risk to the installer.

All new vans come with small ladders, there are some lock boxes we can't get to now

jungleguy · 24-12-2010, 09:40

I'm having more of a poke at the people that made up the H&S rules.

Digital Fanatic · 24-12-2010, 13:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by jb66

I was asked to go under a floor where there was a 2 foot gap to run telephone cables, when I explained it was too small he called me lazy, that I couldn't be bothered and I shouldn't be working for virgin!I do go up lofts if it makes my life easy but if you damage anything and you work for a contractor it comes out your wages. It's not that they don't want to it's sometimes it's just not worth the risk to the installer.

All new vans come with small ladders, there are some lock boxes we can't get to now

That's a bit rough... some people can be very rude can't they?

Jonnymeg · 24-12-2010, 17:58

All installers that work alone are forbidden to work above 2 meters and that is why they do not carry the ladders.
Two man teams can work higher as they can assist each other but they have to be booked in, hence the delay.
It is annoying for you but you have to respect their need for safety, i am sure you would prefer to wait than to scrape blood and brains from your drive.

jimpy0 · 24-12-2010, 18:08

not strictly on topic but i live in a 2 storey maisonette, 1 flight up if that makes any sense and my window cleaner will only do my downstairs windows at the back, but will do the upstairs at the front as he can access off the shed roof :wacko: not allowed to work over "X" height.