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A few months ago we decided that it would be a good idea to give over space in Toolbusiness+Hire to stories about legislation, health and safety and other issues of concern to the industry that didn’t have a regular home in any other part of the magazine.
We had always covered these issues on an ad-hoc basis, usually with another feature in the magazine but creating the Focus feature provided an opportunity to cover whatever seemed to be the most pressing issue at the time of publication.
Now, a few months down the line several of those stories have developed further, so the last issue of the year seemed to be the ideal occasion to write a bit more an each of them.
High Anxiety
Back in July we reported on the HSE’s draft Work at Heights Regulations Guidance, which was just reaching the end of a period of consultation. This had been undertaken as part of the process of implementing the European Temporary Work at Height Directive.
We quoted Bob Gillan, the man responsible for managing the HSE’s priority programme on falls from height, who said: “Falls from height - and I do emphasise any height - killed 49 workers last year, including 11 who fell from movable ladders. HSE figures show that such falls also led to some 4000 major injuries, of which about a third were the result of falls from movable ladders.”
The ongoing nature of the consultation process has meant that anyone with an interest in work at height legislation has had many months to speculate on what the end result would be. Because of the high incidence of accidents involving portable ladders a common worry has been that the new regulations would result in them being banned.
In fact there was never any likelihood of a ban as Gillan said: “There will always been circumstances where using a ladder is the best way of working at height. HSE wants to ensure the safety of those who choose to work this way.”
Concern that a ban on portable ladders was on its way was great enough for the National Federation of Master Window & General Cleaners (NFMW&GC) to issue a statement to reassure its members.
In the statement Andrew Lee the NFMW&GC Health & Safety Officer explains that what the regulations really boil down to is ‘if you don’t have to work at height..then don’t’
Andrew goes on to explain that this means window cleaners should use a water fed pole system where this was practical, but that in many instances encountered by window cleaners working on domestic premises this isn’t an option. “Some customers would be reluctant to have trailing hose pipes dragged over gardens and flower beds, and it would be almost impracticable to pull the hoses round houses or to get portable trolleys round houses, gardens and up and down steps etc.” He says, adding: “So Certainly for domestic houses a risk assessment would show that portable ladders could be justified.”
Andrew also adds that on commercial premises where only a few windows at second floor or below were being cleaned a ladder would be the only justifiable way of cleaning them. For more information on how window cleaners are likely to be affected by the forthcoming legislation check the NFMW&GC website.
As with most new legislation the new working at height rules are really just a clarification of various existing laws. As the NFMW&GC say: ‘THE HSE IS NOT BANNING THE USE OF PORTABLE LADDERS.’ When the laws come into place, which should be just as this magazine is falling on your doormat, all a ladder user needs to do is ask them-self is ‘could I possibly use any thing other than a ladder to do this job?’ If the answer to that is no then the next question is ‘how can I make the ladder as secure as possible?’ If you sell ladders and other equipment for working at height it will pay to be up to date with the regulations, your customers may well want your advice. Visit the HSE website.
Access All Areas
In September as the government’s new Disability Discrimination Bill was about to be introduced we reported on the challenges and opportunities this would present to retailers in the tool and DIY sectors.
The new laws now mean that people with a disability can now expect the same rights as already existed in issues of race discrimination. These laws already existed for companies that employed more than 15 people, but are now universal and apply not just to employers but also to any business offering a service. For the purpose of Toolbusiness+Hire readers this means that if they have a shop they now have to make sure it is fully accessible to anyone with a disability, so features like ramps and wide aisles may be needed. Disabilities such as blindness have to be considered, so clearly pricing products and making sure all signs can be easily read by anyone with a visual impairment should also be considered.
To our retailer reader this doesn’t just mean expense, disabled people have a combined spending power of £50 billion a year, so making sure they can come in and spend will pay off in the end, it also means a marketing opportunity, familiarity with the rules means you can advise customers what they will need to achieve the right results, that way extra sales are made.
With the new laws in place, and more rights for disabled people announced in the Queens speech, awareness among employers and service providers is sure to grow. Also adding to the awareness of the law is the Disability Rights Commission’s (DRC) intention to ensure it makes full use of its legal powers in the coming year, having had nine court victories between 2003-2004. The DRC announced on the 1st of November that it will put further focus on enforcing the law. Bert Massey of the DRC said: “Ground-breaking legal wins have established a precedent where courts are increasingly supportive of equality for disabled people. We aim to maintain this momentum.”
Vibration Situation
One of the most serious issues affecting the industry, and one we reported on a couple of months ago, is Hand Arm Vibration (HAV) which can have disastrous results on anyone exposed to high levels of vibration from a power tool for too long.
New regulations changed the maximum measures of vibration, as well as the way that vibration is measured to make sure exposure is kept to a safe level.
Manufacturers of power tools are now required to provide vibration figures based on the new tri-axial measure.
The Construction Confederation and Hire Association Europe in partner ship with the HSE has developed a very useful ‘traffic light’ indicator system of tool vibration classification. A very useful information sheet is available from the website.
Safe As Houses
All year a Europe wide campaign has been running to raise awareness of the avoidable risk that is still present in construction sites. Each year across the continent 12,000 lives are lost in the construction industry.
We reported that the EU’s Agency for Safety and Health at Work was planning to hold a European Construction safety Summit in Bilbao in November. As a result of that summit a declaration has been signed by the construction bodies: European Construction Industry Federation; European Federation of Building and Wood Workers; European Builders’ Confederation; European federation of Engineering Consultancy Associations; Architects Council of Europe; and the European Council of civil Engineers.
The agreement covers Procurement, taking health and safety into account at the planning stage of projects, using site inspections, developing guidelines and using agreements on training, targets and other issues to stimulate higher standards of safety and health.
More information is available on the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work’s website.
Know It All
We are always striving to ensure we have the latest information on which issues are affecting the industries our readers are involved in, but one of the best ways we can achieve that is if you let us know what concerns you. We are also interested to find out how any of the issues we have covered relate to you in your daily business, so please let us know.
So any thoughts, comments or queries to roland@airstream.co.uk please.
Internet Information
These web addresses should provide a valuable source for anyone wishing to get a bit better informed on the subjects covered in Focus.
Working At Height
Health and Safety Executive
www.hse.gov.uk/falls/index.htm
Prefabricated Access Suppliers and Manufacturers Association
www.pasma.org.uk/
National Federation of Master Window & General Cleaners
www.nfmwgc.com
Disability
Disability Rights Commission
www.drc-gb.org
Government’s Disability Page
www.disability.gov.uk
Vibration
Health and Safety Executive
www.hse.gov.uk/vibration
Construction Confederation
www.thecc.org.uk
Construction
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work
osha.eu.int/ew2004/
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Airstream Business Communications Ltd