Safe Speed Forums

Fear of heights (ie 3ft ladders) halts speed camera campaign
Creep over the speed limit, and you might get a £60 fixed penalty and three points on your driving licence. Really put your foot down in a built-up area, and the magistrates could relieve you of up to £1,000. And that’s assuming you don’t injure anybody.

But go up a ladder without approved ladder training to install one of those flashing roadside speed indicators, and the bench could have £5,000 off you, plus costs, for working at height without consent. Height in this context could mean 3ft (90cm) off the ground, but you could still end up in the Crown Court. Even if you didn’t break your neck falling off.

Health and safety regulations are now the overarching power in the land, as Lancashire County Council has discovered in its attempt to improve road safety in the northwest by installing electronic speed indicators which are regarded as effective in shaming drivers into slowing down.

Thirty of the devices lie waiting to be put up on their roadside poles, but the council has found that it does not have enough staff qualified to go up ladders to install them.

These days to go up a ladder you have to comply with the Health and Safety Executive’s Working at Height Regulations 2005 (amended 2007) which are the offspring of the EU’s Working At Height Directive born in Brussels in 2001. Last year about 350 road deaths were ascribed to speeding. In the same period 14 people died after falling off ladders.

Lancashire used to have three roadside speed indicators, which were erected and maintained by the police. Policemen are qualified to go up ladders, but they are not qualified to teach other people how to do so. With the sudden expansion of speed indicators, the police have decided that they are too busy to look after them and have passed off the responsibility. PC Ian Ashton, of the county’s road policing unit, said: “Officers who deal with the signs have had ladder training, but they are not able to train others.”

Peter Andrews, manager of the county council’s environment directorate, said with a hint of desperation that he had approached the county fire brigade to see if they could help. Of the many skills acquired by firefighters, climbing ladders is near the top of the list.

“Until we get the fire brigade’s help we won’t be able to get any new signs up and running because we have to make sure people are safe and within the law. It is not a decision we have taken lightly but we have to make sure people are properly trained because there is an element of risk,” Mr Andrews said.

The HSE takes ladder training very seriously. Ladder training involves being supervised the first time you go up one, checking that you have the right one for the job, and – ideally – not touching anything electrical while you’re up one. It even runs a ladder exchange, offering to replace dodgy ones with ones that are suitable for the job.

Tony Martin, Lancashire County Council member for Burnley and the council’s cabinet member for sustainable development, said he was disappointed that the police had given up responsibility for the speed indicators. “When the first ones came out the police were very insistent that they wanted to install them and be responsible for charging them up. Now that there are more than three in the county they want rid of the responsibility. Now that we have bought quite a few of these, they are languishing in village halls for want of people with ladder skills.”

Roger Vincent, of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said: “Road safety measures can save lives if they persuade motorists to slow down and stay within the speed limit. A sensible approach is needed in this case.”

Now that we have bought quite a few of these, they are languishing in village halls for want of people with ladder skills.

Peter Andrews, manager of the county council’s environment directorate, said with a hint of desperation that he had approached the county fire brigade to see if they could help. Of the many skills acquired by firefighters, climbing ladders is near the top of the list.

“Until we get the fire brigade’s help we won’t be able to get any new signs up and running because we have to make sure people are safe and within the law. It is not a decision we have taken lightly but we have to make sure people are properly trained because there is an element of risk,” Mr Andrews said.

Gardener must use warning signs

A pensioner has been told she must stop tending a public flower bed unless she agrees to wear a fluorescent jacket, put up warning signs and use a lookout.
June Turnbull, 79, of Urchfront near Devizes, has nurtured the blooms on the plot for eight years.

But now she is being told to obey health and safety rules after being spotted by a county council official.

Mrs Turnbull said: "They can send me to jail if they like - I just want to be left alone to do it."

Peter Hanson, from Wiltshire County Council, said: "We require that people undertaking this type of work follow the same safety procedures as our own staff.

"This will include wearing fluorescent jackets, placing warning signs and in some cases such as this location in Urchfont because it is on a bend, working in pairs."

Peter Newell, chairman of Urchfont Parish Council, said the council's demands would mean Ms Turnbull would have to apply for a licence.

"We need to get a licence from the Highways Authority if she is to continue and she must wear a fluorescent jacket and have three warning signs and a man standing on guard to get that licence and go on our insurance.

"If we don't June will have to stop."

A defiant Mrs Turnbull said it was "health and safety gone mad" and has vowed to continue gardening despite the warning she will be banned.

She insisted: "I love doing it. I want to make it as pretty as I possible can. I will continue working on the flower bed."

A defiant Mrs Turnbull said it was "health and safety gone mad" and has vowed to continue gardening despite the warning she will be banned.

She insisted: "I love doing it. I want to make it as pretty as I possible can. I will continue working on the flower bed."