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Continued from the homepage
The association has already sponsored a series of public debates in the Access Industry Forum’s (AIF) Knowledge Base at this year’s Safety & Health Expo, and produced a wide-ranging interim technical report as a platform for further discussion and consultation.
It will be followed by two days of practical assessments in June when both methods will be assessed and appraised against a common set of criteria. Any issues requiring further study - for example, ergonomic aspects or structural aspects - will then be referred to an acknowledged expert.
Throughout the process PASMA is consulting widely with all the relevant stakeholders, including HSE. Its findings are expected to be published in the latter part of the year. HSE Inspector, Justine Lee, who has special responsibility in the areas of working at height and fall prevention comments, “We are very encouraged at PASMA’s responsible and measured approach to reviewing progress in fall prevention in the mobile access tower industry. We look forward to positively contributing once again to the review process and in working with the association to further minimise the risk of fall in the coming years.” It is now five years since the Work at Height Regulations came into force and PASMA, whilst acknowledging the advances in the adoption of safer work methods, sensibly wishes to review progress and chart a course for the future which builds on the industry’s already impressive achievements. Comments managing director, Peter Bennett: “Against the background of the recent House of Lords Merits Committee Enquiry which looked into the downstream and unintended effects of the implementation of the Work at Height Regulations, any recommendations regarding fall prevention will, of necessity, take into account the benefits and burdens – including the financial and technical implications – placed on manufacturers, hirers, purchasers and, of course, end users. He continues: “In coming to any conclusion we need to be sure we have addressed all the issues, as far as it is possible to identify and understand them, so that we safeguard against any displaced risks further down the line.” Note for Editor Historically, the 3T (Through the Trap) method has been the most popular choice of users – a choice determined in part by the fewer AGR (Advanced Guardrail) product offerings available in the marketplace. Both the 3T and AGR methods have a proven safety record. PASMA has never received a single report of any incident, accident or fatality resulting from the use of either method. 3T and AGR remain the only two methods currently approved by PASMA and HSE for assembling and dismantling towers, and both methods are fully supported by PASMA’s industry standard training scheme. About PASMA A founder member of the Access Industry Forum (AIF), PASMA is the lead trade association in Europe for the mobile access tower industry. Representing the interests of manufacturers, suppliers, specifiers and users, it delivers and oversees the industry standard training scheme and is a major publisher of safety-related knowledge, information and guidance. Liaising closely with all the key regulatory authorities and standards-setting bodies in the work at height sector, it is the voice of the industry and, as such, plays a leading role in promoting best practice. This current review is part of that process. For more information please visit: www.pasma.co.uk More Information
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