Painting - Painting safely: a cupola above a belvedere

We have a cupola sitting above a belvedere that needs painting and moderate repair. the belvedere has a cathederal ceiling that comes to a point with about a 30 degree roof. The main house has a shallow 15 degree roof, so it is easy to climb around the main roof to paint the windows in the belvedere. How do painters safely get up the steeper roof of the belvedere to paint the cupola? The belvedere is square as is the main house, but I cannot figure out what contrivance the professionals use to work safely around the cupola.

What's a belvedere?:o

Generally when the roof is too steep to stand on, we'll lean an extension ladder on it - you may need a helper or figure out a way to tie the ladder so it won't move on you:eek:

Could you supply a pic or two?

Kind of hard to see without a picture, but one side or the other you should be able to lay a ladder on the belvedere roof and have it footed by someone on the main roof. Then once you are at the cupola height on one side you could attach a sling and climb around. With OSHA taking over the rigging in most states, and with the regulations (and fines) with regard to fall protection, most companies rent a cherry picker to get at the very hard to get at places.

I wasn't sure about the style either. Is this it?
I guess I can't post a pic yet so here is a link....
h**p://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11311478

Hey John, I'm not sure on how to post a pic either :o
but most use a free site like photobucket.com