Scaffolding work & health and safety

want-it-all

Possibly in the wrong forum, but this is the most appropriate place I could think of.



Sorry if this makes me sound like a real busy-body, health and safety gone mad type of person, but I’ve got a little query…

…Currently, there is work going on at mine and my neighbours’ properties (we are a block of flats with 6 units), and there is scaffolding surrounding the whole building.

The way this scaffolding is positioned means I can’t open any windows. One window opens, but only by an inch or so. All other windows are completely blocked from opening. They are UPVC double-glazed windows, so probably very difficult to break in an emergency, and the positioning of the scaffolding would present real difficulties in shimmying out of the windows, anyway. Both communal windows in the hallway are also blocked in a similar manner. The communal front door itself is unrestricted.


I’m mildly concerned about my safety now, especially since this work will go on for a number of weeks. In the 6 years I’ve lived here, there have been two domestic fires in this block (one of which was drug-related arson...tenant since evicted, thank God!). On both occasions I managed to exit via the front door, but on one occasion my upstairs neighbour had to hang and drop from his 2nd floor flat window (no injuries, fall broken by a parked car) due to thick black smoke in the hallways. If these fires had never happened, the implications of my windows being blocked would've never crossed my mind...


My landlord is a housing association, and the work is being undertaken by local contractors. I know how to complain, but would I be justified in doing so? I’m not sure if this (blocking windows) is common practice when scaffolding work is being done, and am concerned about looking like an absolute twit for complaining (and possibly disrupting work) over something which, as far as I know, may be completely normal.

[FONT=&quot]Any ideas?[/FONT]

anselld

Blocking means of escape is certainly not allowed.
The question is, are any of the windows recognised means of emergency escape?
The HA should have done a fire risk assessment of the premesis and this should assess what escape routes are required and provided all these are still accessible you should be OK.

So, rather than complain straight off, why not ask to see a copy of their fire risk assessment.

MX5huggy

Just have an object to hand to smash the windows, hit the corner not the middle.

want-it-all

anselld wrote: »

Blocking means of escape is certainly not allowed.
The question is, are any of the windows recognised means of emergency escape?
The HA should have done a fire risk assessment of the premesis and this should assess what escape routes are required and provided all these are till accessible you should be OK.

So, rather than complain straight off, why not ask to see a copy of their fire risk assessment.

I think my (teeny, tiny) balcony is a recognised means of escape, but its door and window are blocked from opening. Will check up on their policy, thanks.