Author: Rhona

At the July meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Working at Height, attendees were delighted to hear from the No Falls Foundation to learn more about the No Falls Charter.

The speakers were Peter Bennett OBE, Chair of the No Falls Foundation; Ray Cooke, Health and Safety Advisor and Hannah Williams, Charity Manager. Chaired by Glasgow Central MP, Alison Thewliss, the meeting received excellent attendance with over 80 participants from across the sector and Parliament.

The presentation focused on the key aims and objectives of the No Falls Charter and the importance of every organisation and individual reporting near misses. Near miss data can be used to proactively address safety issues not otherwise known and, if left unresolved, can and often does lead to a life-changing fall from height. The intention of the No Falls Charter is to set out best practise in relation to standards, regulations, policies and guidance, collecting and utilising expertise from a wide range of industry partners whose collaboration demonstrates a transparent commitment to improved height safety. The successful implementation of the No Falls Charter will strengthen the case to Government for improved safety regulations for workers who operate at height and the APPG encouraged industry partners to support it. Full minutes of the meeting will be available on the APPG’s website shortly.

The next meeting of the Group will be held in October, following the summer recess and party conference season. The focus of the meeting will be considering the power of technology to prevent serious injuries and fatalities while working at height and discuss ways that technology is already used to improve safety, but also at how we can encourage greater use of new technology for businesses of all sizes to go even further. 

If you’d like to find out more or sign-up to the mailing list, please email appg@workingatheight.info.

Since last writing, the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Working at Height was pleased to hold its Annual General Meeting, and first virtual session of 2021, on Tuesday 20 April. This saw fantastic support from cross-party politicians, who returned as officers of the Group, including Alison Thewliss MP (SNP, Glasgow Central) who continues as Chair.

The focus for the session was the new campaign launched by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Discovering Safety, which aims to deliver health and safety benefits through a “data-driven global community”. The Group were fortunate to secure Sarah Newton, Chair of the HSE as a guest speaker, who was joined by Dr Helen Balmforth, Project Director for the Discovering Safety campaign.

Using data insights, the HSE hope to improve health and safety performance and reduce workplace deaths. Sarah Newton explained that the success of the campaign will depend on partnerships with academia and industry, combining scientific expertise and knowledge, to ensure the HSE remain proactive rather than reactive. She encouraged attendees to get in touch with the HSE via the dedicated Discovering Safety website to identify how they can become involved.

The HSE has already completed phase one of the campaign, which looked at proving the concept. The second phase will develop sustainable outputs and is focused on construction. Phase three, due to start in 2022, will focus on maximising reach with other sectors. To read the full minutes of this meeting or for more information, please visit the APPG website.

The next meeting of the Group will be held prior to the summer recess in Parliament and the No Falls Foundation will be presenting on the No Falls Charter. APPG proceedings are expected to continue online until at least the end of June.

If you’d like to find out more or sign-up to the mailing list, please email appgworkingatheight@connectpa.co.uk.

Now in its third year, the Group chaired by Alison Thewliss MP (SNP, Glasgow Central) and sponsored by the Access Industry Forum, brings together Parliamentarians, industry leaders and trade associations to campaign and raise awareness of the risks of working at height.

With new faces in Parliament and a Government with a strong majority, the overarching aim for 2020 was to build a broad coalition of support for the key recommendations of the APPG and raise awareness. After formally reconstituting with seven parliamentary officers from the three main political parties in Westminster, by the end of January, the Group had held its first meeting in Parliament. This focused on a safe working environment and the then Shadow Employment Rights Secretary, Rachael Maskell MP (Lab, York Central) and the now Chair of the Work and Pensions Select Committee, Stephen Timms MP (Lab, East Ham) joined. Most notably, Stephen Timms MP confirmed his interest in the policy area and his intention to look at the funding and remit of the Health and Safety Executive.

In June, the Group took its proceedings online, holding its first virtual meeting. In this, the discussion focused on ensuring that the collaboration that had been seen between Government and industry on workplace safety during the pandemic continued in areas like working at height. The meeting was a great success with attendees from across Parliament and industry, including former Health and Safety Minister Lord McKenzie, the Communications Workers Union, the British Safety Council and Labour Party advisers.

This was followed later in the year by a session looking at working at height in rural locations, considering how all sectors can best work together and dispelling myths about where falls from height occur. The APPG worked with influential organisations like the National Farmers’ Union, Unite the Union and the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health to secure over 50 attendees – a real highlight in terms of engagement with industry.

Outside of formal meetings, the APPG was delighted to support the Access Industry Forum with its submission to the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review and fantastic engagement with the new Chair of the Health and Safety Executive, Sarah Newton, to name just a few highlights.

In 2021, the APPG will be looking to convert this momentum and support into tangible actions, to ensure serious injury and fatality rates continue to fall. If you’d like to find out more or sign-up to the mailing list, please email appgworkingatheight@connectpa.co.uk.

The Foundation is asking everyone to take extra care and follow this simple advice:

1. Avoid using furniture, tables and chairs to stand on. Use a ladder or stepladder according to the height you wish to reach;
   
   
2. Before using the ladder make sure it’s in good condition. Check the rungs or treads and the stiles (sides) are not bent, damaged or loose. Check the feet are clean, secure, and not worn out. Check locking devices are working and step ladder platforms are not buckled or cracked;
   
   
3. Position the ladder on a firm and level surface, facing the work wherever possible. Check the label for the ladders maximum load and don’t exceed it. Step ladders must be fully opened, and any locking devices properly engaged. Never overreach – move the ladder to a better position;
   
   
4. Maintain a firm handhold and only let go for a moment when the task requires you to do so. When using a step ladder for jobs that briefly require both hands, keep both feet on the same step or on the platform and your body (knees or chest) supported by the stepladder to maintain three points of contact. On a leaning ladder, don’t do any jobs that require you to let go for more than a few seconds e.g. starting a screw or nail;
   
   
5. Wear footwear with a good grip and move slowly and carefully up and down the ladder;
   
   
6. Don’t drink and decorate! Alcohol significantly increases your risk of falling. You can celebrate once the job is done!