Have you ever wondered, - how do they maintain the iconic lights on Blackpool Tower?
Lets meet the lighting engineer responsible for keeping the famous Blackpool Tower illuminated. His job involves regularly abseiling 518 ft down one of Lancashire's most iconic structures to maintain its computer-operated system of 225,000 LED bulbs.
Even at home, the tower is never far away. It is visible from his back window, and calls from colleagues asking him to check on the lights are not uncommon. "Everyone round here knows what I do," he says. "They love to criticise and tell me if they see a light out."
The top of the tower is a magnet for tourists, many of whom visit specifically to experience the SkyWalk, the glass floor observation deck that sits 380 ft above the Promenade. What most visitors do not realise is that the man keeping those lights burning may well be hanging beneath their feet.
This was a rare opportunity to photograph a working at height environment at serious elevation. Rope access work at this scale requires meticulous planning, the right competencies, and absolute confidence in equipment and technique. The images here give a sense of just how exposed that worksite is.
You could call this the tallest light fitting in Lancashire.
To illustrate just how high todays worksite was.
If you would like further information on working at height safely, please get in touch via the contacts page. If you are considering a career in rope access or are looking for a recommended training provider based in Blackpool, feel free to reach out.