Things Look Up For Working At Height Regulations

Things are looking cautiously more positive in the consultation process for the new Working At Height safety regulations which have alarmed the Adventure Activities sector.

Outdoors instructors, course providers and guides have expressed concerns that some of the measures in the draft regulations targeted the construction industry and were inappropriate and, in some areas, potentially even dangerous for use in the outdoors.

Before the consulation process ended last Friday 2 April though, representatives of the industry - Dave Turnbull - British Mountaineering Council, John Cousins - Mountain Leader Training UK, Tom Redfern - Association of Caving Instructors, and Marcus Baillie - Adventure Activities Licensing Authority - met HSE officials to express their concern.

In a press release, the HSE describes the meeting as 'productive' and comments that:

'HSE recognises that the Adventure Activities sector has a very good safety record, and already has exemplary safety standards and guidance. Adherence to those standards should mean the sector will have not have problems fulfilling the requirements of the draft Regulations.'

The statement also says that the HSE will continue to work with representatives of the Adventure Activities Sector during the review of comments on the draft and amendments to the regulations.

The release together with comments from an HSE spokesperson in a recent BBC news article seem to be ground for cautious optimism over the regulations which the HSE wants to see on the statute book before the end of the year.

You can also download the BMC response to the draft regulations from this page on the BMC site. In a letter to the HSE, they emphasise their concern that although the regulations apply only in the workplace, they could have a detrimental impact on the sport as a whole.