This Maltese builder appears to be balanced on one end of a pulley, the other end weighed down by stone blocks over a four-storey wall


Safety blunder

This picture of repairs being made to a four-storey parapet wall was taken in Malta by Alan Houghton.

He explains the unusual safety arrangements in place: 鈥淭he two ropes from his plank pass over the parapet wall and roof and down the other side. There they are attached to another plank upon which sits two large blocks of limestone.

"There appears to be absolutely no mechanical fixing for this arrangement, and it seems to rely entirely upon the friction between the ropes and the wall for stability. I have no idea how he gets onto the plank to start a day's work, although it is fairly easy to get off - particularly if someone wants a spare block of limestone from the other side.鈥�

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