![PP Construction Safety logo and link to home page [1]](https://www.ppconstructionsafety.com/wp-content/themes/ppcs960/images/ppcslogo.jpg)
WARNING ON UNSAFE CONSTRUCTION ACCESS EQUIPMENT
Concern over ‘cheap inferior’ access products flooding the UK market
The Prefabricated Access Suppliers and Manufacturers Association (PASMA) supported by HSE is warning users of low level access products e.g podium steps and folding room scaffolds, to make sure that bought or hired equipment meets at least the minimum standards of fall protection.
The warning arises from concern about cheap, inferior products now flooding the UK market, without adequate guardrail system fitted as standard. Some 50,000 of these work at height tools have been sold in the UK and Ireland since 2004 and are widely used in the construction industry by a multitude of finishing trades.
Demand and lack of standard fuels unsafe equipment
Peter Bennett PASMA managing director said:
“In theory these products provide a compact, lightweight and protected work platform that represents a safe method of working at height, especially at low heights of 2.5 metres and below.
Unfortunately, whenever there is high demand for a product there is inevitably an opportunity for companies to offer deficient equipment which, in the absence of a minimum standard, can be marketed with impunity, thus exacerbating the already concerning accident statistics for low level work at height.”
PASMA is looking to establish a minimum quality standard and is working with the British Standards Institute (BSI) on a publicly available specification (PAS). It has also developed a new DVD/CD ‘Accidents can happen even at low level’.
Joy Jones Head of the HSE Construction National Safety Team, said:
“We share the PASMA concern over this issue and welcome the initiative. Our inspectors have come across workers using products that do not meet minimum health and safety requirements.
Falls from height are a major cause of death and injury within the construction industry and duty holders must ensure they are complying with the law and protecting themselves and their workers.”
Latest Construction Health and Safety News
HSE ENFORCEMENT DATABASE LATEST UPDATE
View current online register of HSE prosecutions and enforcement notices
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 14th August 2019FALL PRECAUTIONS FELL BETWEEN TWO FIRMS
Contractors fined after workers at risk of falling from roof
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 9th August 2019SOLAR PANEL FIRM AWARE OF FRAGILE ROOF RISK
Workman suffered long-term injuries in 4m fall through rooflight
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 9th August 2019HSE PROSECUTE FIRM OVER RISK NOT HARM
Multiple safety failings land construction company in court
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 9th August 2019CLIENT AND CONTRACTOR FACED COURT TOGETHER
Firms breached joint duty to plan and carry our work at height safely
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 6th August 2019£1M FINE OVER DEATH CAUSED BY EXCAVATOR
Vehicle driver found guilty at trial alongside CDM Principal Contractor
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 6th August 2019CHILD DIED WHILST PLAYING ON POWERED GATE
Lack of end stop caused gate to fall on 6 year old boy
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 6th August 2019HSE SPEAK AT ACCESS INDUSTRY CONFERENCE 2019
AIF National Working at Height Conference November 2019
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 6th August 2019UK CLIENT FINED OVER UNSAFE OVERSEAS FIRM
Italian contractor found guilty despite failure to attend court
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 6th August 2019COMPLETE FAILURE TO RECOGNISE HAVS RISK
Specialist drilling company and director sentenced over HAVS danger
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 6th August 2019PC AND TWO OTHERS FAILED TO ASSESS WIND EFFECT
Fall of director from roof caused by ‘Storm Doris’ gust
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 30th July 2019MAJOR FIRM FINED £400k OVER LIFTING OPERATION
Fitter loses four fingers as load slides and falls to the ground
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 28th July 2019NEW HOMES LEFT IN DANGEROUS CONDITION
Fined for unsafe gas work causing fires at housing development
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 28th July 2019FIRM FINED £1M OVER EXPLOSION DURING CLEANING
Tank cleaning operation caused burns as flammable vapours ignited
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 25th July 2019YOUNG BRICKLAYER FELL THROUGH OPEN STAIRWAY
Firm fined over failure to install fall protection around opening
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 25th July 2019STRUCTURAL SAFETY BODY LATEST NEWSLETTER
CROSS publishes reports and expert comment on a range of issues
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 23rd July 2019FLAT ROOF FAILED UNDER WEIGHT OF WORKMAN
Confusion over fragility proves costly for worker and business
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 23rd July 2019PROPERTY FIRM FINED OVER FATAL FALL FROM TREE
Untrained workers using chain saw engaged to fell large sycamore
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 23rd July 2019LANDLORD PUT PUBLIC AT RISK FROM ASBESTOS
Powered jet washing of asbestos cement sheets caused spread
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 23rd July 2019WORKMAN FELL FROM SUSPENDED ACCESS EQUIPMENT
Health Board and maintenance firm director prosecuted
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 23rd July 2019CONSIDERING TEMP WORKS IN PERMANENT DESIGN
Useful overview for civil and structural engineers on contemporary practice
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 23rd July 2019FIRM FAILED TO COMPLY WITH SITE WELFARE NOTICE
Basic welfare requirements found wanting for second time
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 23rd July 2019PRISON TERM OVER POORLY GUARDED CIRCULAR SAW
Workman lost three fingers using machine without guard and riving knife
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 23rd July 2019COMPANY IGNORED HSE ON SILICA DUST ACTION
Worktop manufacturer failed to control dust and manage ventilation
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 23rd July 2019ASBESTOS REMOVED WITHOUT SURVEY OR CONTROLS
Client fined over failure to commission refurb and demo survey
Posted on 15th July 2019
