Mobile High Level Access Operative

JOB TITLE: 

Mobile High-Level Access Operative 

LOCATIONS: 

London Fire Brigade and wider ABM locations 

SHIFT PATTERN: 

Monday to Friday 8 – 5 

SALARY: TBC

ROLE OVERVIEW AND PURPOSE 

• Join a three-person mobile high-level access team supporting reactive repairs, remedial works, planned preventative maintenance (PPM) and additional works across the London Fire Brigade estate and, where required, wider ABM locations. 

• Transport, position, erect, inspect, dismantle and use mobile access towers within the limits of competence, manufacturer instructions and approved RAMS. The proposed fleet includes two Youngman MiniMax towers providing approximately 7.8 m working height and two existing ABM towers providing approximately 4.5 m working height. 

• Provide controlled access support to specialist engineers, including electrical, gas, air-conditioning, fabric and other competent trades. The access operative is responsible for the access activity and support; the specialist engineer remains responsible for the technical trade work. 

• Work in accordance with the Work at Height Regulations 2005, the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, PUWER 1998, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, relevant manufacturer instructions, LFB requirements and ABM safe systems of work. 

• Prepare or contribute to task-specific risk assessments and method statements for each work order, covering access arrangements, site set-up, working methods, second-person requirements, emergency arrangements and rescue planning. RAMS must receive supervisory review and approval before work starts. 

• Plan and prioritise mobile access activity using geographic batching and coordinated scheduling to improve response, productivity, vehicle utilisation and service resilience, while releasing existing LFB personnel from access-support duties where it is safe and operationally appropriate. 

• Complete accurate access, inspection, RAMS, photographic, time and defect records so that work is auditable, compliant, capable of being closed promptly and available for contract reporting and cost recovery. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Attend planned, reactive, remedial, PPM and additional works where a tower or other controlled access arrangement is required, confirming the required working height, equipment configuration, ground conditions and site constraints before work begins. 

• Transport access equipment securely in the assigned Nissan Primastar L2 van, using suitable racking, tie-down points and load-securing arrangements. Complete vehicle and load checks before travel and report any defect or unsafe condition. 

• Carry out pre-use checks, assemble and dismantle towers in accordance with the manufacturer instructions and approved configuration, and complete the required inspection after assembly and before first use. 

• Maintain inspection records, report defects, quarantine unsafe equipment and ensure periodic inspections are completed where required, including after alteration, adverse weather, exceptional circumstances or other events affecting stability. 

• Coordinate with the specialist engineer, site representative, scheduler, supervisor and other trades to agree access, exclusion zones, permits, isolations, public protection, traffic management and the timing of the technical work. 

• Ensure every work order is supported by suitable task-specific RAMS and that the RAMS clearly states whether lone working is permitted, when a second competent person is mandatory, how contact is maintained and how emergency or rescue arrangements will be managed. 

• Do not undertake specialist trade work unless separately trained, competent and authorised. Do not work alone at height where the manufacturer instructions, RAMS, risk assessment or task controls require a second competent person. 

• Support ABM subcontractors carrying out specialist works where controlled access support can reduce external hire, maintain safe delivery and improve overall cost control, subject to approved RAMS and the agreed scope of competence. 

• Obtain site or customer sign-off where required and submit inspection records, RAMS, photographs, timesheets, defect reports and completion information promptly to support job closure and contract reporting. 

• Use mobile working time effectively, including accurate weekly timesheets, travel records, vehicle checks and clear separation of productive, travel, training and non-recoverable time. 

• Support the wider ABM business when LFB workload permits, while maintaining LFB response, PPM, remedial and compliance priorities. 

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE 

• Current PASMA Towers for Users qualification, or the ability to obtain and maintain the relevant PASMA category for the tower configurations used. 

• IPAF or other equipment-specific certification where the role requires operation of a mobile elevating work platform, or the ability to obtain the required certification following QSHE review. 

• Demonstrable experience of working at height, mobile access towers, site set-up, safe assembly and dismantling, inspection records and the practical application of manufacturer instructions. 

• Practical understanding of the Work at Height Regulations 2005, PUWER 1998, manual handling controls, PPE requirements, risk assessment and safe systems of work. 

• Ability to prepare clear task-specific RAMS or RAMS inputs under the direction of supervisors, with the discipline to follow the approved method and stop work where controls are absent or inadequate. 

• Ability to assess ground conditions, overhead services, access routes, exclusion zones, weather, public interfaces, vehicle movements and rescue requirements before work begins. 

• Full UK driving licence and the ability to travel across the London Fire Brigade estate and wider ABM locations in a mobile commercial vehicle. 

• Ability to undertake manual handling associated with tower transport and assembly, subject to the approved equipment, training, medical requirements and safe system of work. 

• Strong written and verbal communication, with the discipline to produce accurate records in a compliance-led and customer-facing environment. 

• Ability to work collaboratively with specialist engineers and other trades while maintaining clear accountability for the access activity and safe system of work. 

• Ability to work independently when permitted by the approved RAMS and risk assessment, while recognising when a second competent person, supervisor or specialist engineer is required. 

DESIRABLE BUT NOT ESSENTIAL 

• Experience working in operational, public-sector, critical-environment or occupied-building settings, including fire stations or other live operational sites. 

• Experience supporting electrical, mechanical, HVAC, fabric or other specialist trades with controlled access equipment, including coordination with subcontractors. 

HEALTH AND SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Comply with ABM Group and company policies, LFB procedures, contract requirements and all applicable legislation and standards, including the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, Work at Height Regulations 2005, Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, PUWER 1998, Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992, Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 and CDM Regulations 2015 where relevant. 

• Read, understand and follow approved RAMS, permits, exclusion zones, isolation arrangements and emergency procedures before starting work. Stop work and escalate where the access method, equipment, site conditions or controls are unsuitable. 

• Use towers, vehicles, tools, PPE and other equipment correctly, ensuring equipment is suitable, inspected, securely transported and used in accordance with training and manufacturer instructions. A scaffold tag is not a substitute for the required inspection record. 

• Maintain a clear distinction between self-assurance and formal verification. Complete the required pre-use, assembly and work-order checks, maintain the equipment register and report defects, incidents, near misses, unsafe conditions, competency gaps and training needs promptly. 

• Follow the approved lone-working and second-person arrangements. Where the task, manufacturer instructions, tower configuration, RAMS or risk assessment requires two competent people, ensure the second person is available and attends. Maintain the agreed communication, check-in and emergency or rescue arrangements. 

• Participate in PASMA, IPAF where applicable, manual handling, work-at-height, lone-working, toolbox talks, technical briefings, refresher training and continuing professional development. Cooperate with periodic QSHE verification visits and the annual documentation review of equipment, records, competence, RAMS and the delivery model.