Putting up a display

These pages help you to:

identify the risks involved with putting up a display in a school, shop or office
choose the right access equipment to do the job

Working conditions

Questions to ask include:

How high is the job from the ground?

What surface will the access equipment rest on? (e.g. a partition wall)

Is this surface strong enough to take the weight of the workers and their equipment?

What is the ground condition under the area where access equipment might need to be set up - for example, is it sloping, slippery or uneven?

If you fall, what will you fall on to?

What tools or materials will you need to put up the display? How will you get them up and down safely? Are they heavy or awkward to carry?

When looking at what you need to do the job, think about the following…

From the ground	Can you do the work from the ground?	Yes/No
From a platform	Can you do the work from a mobile elevated work platform (MEWP) a podium or tower scaffold?	Yes/No
Rope Access	Can you use rope access to do the job safely?	Yes/No
Fall protection	Do you need personal fall protection to allow safe access?	Yes/No
From a ladder	Is the work low risk [PDF 135kb] and short duration?	Yes/No
	Do you have a ladder that will reach the area?	Yes/No
	Can you secure the ladder safely? [PDF 320kb]	Yes/No
	Can you or your workers use the ladder safely? [PDF 320kb]	Yes/No

When you are planning the display think about how you will put it up and take it down.
Don’t stand on tables or chairs to do this work. Use the right equipment.
Take frequent breaks, especially when working from a ladder - do not work from a ladder for longer than 30 minutes at a time.
If you are using a ladder keep three points of contact wherever possible.
Make sure the people who will be doing the job have the right skills, experience and training to use the equipment safely.
If you are hiring access equipment, make sure you know how to install and dismantle it safely - ask the hirer for instructions or assistance if you need them.