COMMUNICATION WORKERS UNION

WITHOD

Members of the TFS H&S team, along with local branch safety representatives recently attended a meeting to examine the effectiveness of the current WITHOD lighting kit in 'real-life' situation and to observe pole climbing, working off ladders and cabinet/UG work. The meeting was also to consider the effectiveness of a commercially available product which BT might be considered as a replacement to the lighting kit.

The aim was for two engineers to carry out the above work activities while the working party assess the effectiveness of the equipment in varying degrees of low ambient light.

During this meeting several issues were highlighted and subsequently brought to the attention of the Openreach National safety team, mainly that:

1. No risk assessment has ever been undertaken for the use of the safety belt 11 in terms of working in low ambient lighting.
2. There appeared to be some problems around the process and ability to undertake a full visual check of the belt and lanyard when aloft.
3. Due to the fact that the SB 11 was not in use when the WITHOD kit was assessed there has not been any assessment of the safe working practices for using WITHOD kit in conjunction with the Safety belt 11.

These issues were raised at the Openreach safety meeting where it was made clear that the only kit to be used for working in low ambient lighting is the ORIGINAL WITHOD kit, as no national assessments have been undertaken on any other kit. It was also pointed out to the company that in some areas Line management had undertaken local purchase of lighting kit, and again it was made clear that this kit should not be used unless agreed and certificated.

There are also several operational issues that the union have now highlighted and asked to be addressed, including;

WITHOD training;      Only those people who have undertaken the original WITHOD training in low ambient light are able to use the kit. There currently is NO agreed training course, or refresher course, available for any engineers although the Company are now trialling a pilot course.

Wire Heights;           There are no agreed working practices for the erection or dropping of wires during low ambient light, and there is no method to ensure that wire heights are achieved to meet either audit or safety standards.

Due to the serious implications to our members we are now advising all members that the climbing of poles in low ambient light should not be undertaken until they have carried out a full risk assessment on climbing in the Hours of Darkness. However, the CWU does not believe at this time that there is a safe method of working until we have a:  

• Nationally agreed Risk assessment for the use of lighting kit and Safety belt 11.
• An agreed WITHOD training course has been produced
• An assessment has been undertaken as to suitable lighting kit.

Members should also ensure that any lighting kit used is correctly certificated and tested in line with BT policy.

Source: LTB778/08