Work related mental ill-health, mainly stress, is the single largest cause of illness at work yet is rarely treated in the same way as many workplace issues.

Using a new chemical?  Complete a COSHH assessment.  Using a computer at work?  Conduct a DSE Assessment.  Got a stress at work problem?  Many companies are still unaware of the legal requirement to carry out a Stress Risk Assessment or are avoiding doing so.  The reality is that happier employees are more effective, so it is in the interests of all parties that this solvable problem is tackled rather than ignored.

Arco Professional Safety Services share key elements from their ‘Stress and Mental Wellbeing Course’ which can help managers acquire the knowledge and confidence to manage mental wellbeing and support their teams more effectively, both proactively and reactively whether issues are caused by work or outside factors.

Move to a Proactive Culture.  Promoting wellbeing as a state to be talked about, worked towards and actively encouraged reduces negative stigma around the phrase ‘mental health’ and proactively talking about stress is one of the best ways to begin tackling it.  Managers are ideally placed to help handle employee stress as they have a greater understanding of the people in their team, their roles and the workplace stress risk factors they face.

Clarify Available Resources.  Popularising stress and mental wellbeing resources such as Stress Risk Assessments (SRA’s) and Wellness Action Plans (WAP’s) and making them easily accessible through company intranet links and proactive conversations increases awareness and the likelihood they will be utilised.

Hazard Spot.  As with traditional health and safety hazards, identifying and managing issues that are likely to cause stress before they become problematic and intervening immediately where stress or mental ill-health is identified will be more cost effective, better for the individual, team, business and manager compared with ignoring the problem or leaving it too late.

Work or Personal Cause?  Establishing whether the cause of stress is related to work, home or a combination of both is a vital first step and one that can build trust between person and manager and lead to the early identification of solutions.

Absence.  When a person is absent due to mental ill-health, agree on a method and frequency of contact, and what they are comfortable speaking about including what should be kept confidential, then actively engage with the person as agreed.  The sooner we engage and make the person feel visible, valuable, connected and supported, the speedier the return to work is likely to be.

Support. Support. Support.  Avoid giving advice.  Colleagues need to feel that they are being taken seriously, are listened to and supported.  Managers shouldn’t assume that they know how their employees feel; instead, they should ask how they feel.  If managers do not feel able to speak with their employees, it is important that they find someone who can, such as a mental health first aider, wellbeing champion or another person who can relate to the individual.

Stress Risk Assessments (SRA).  Carrying out SRA’s based on the HSE Stress Management Standards to establish and resolve the causes of stress in the workplace is vital.  If a person’s stress is work-related then it needs to be addressed at work and the causes tackled together at work rather than referring them elsewhere.  Even if the person’s stress is not work-related, it is worth conducting an SRA to establish how the following factors may impact upon the person and whether adjustments may be required.  The six key factors to assess in an SRA are:

• Demands; workload and what the person is having to deal with at work.
• Support; high demand needs high support.
• Role; is the role a demanding role; is the person suited to the role?
• Relationships; how they are getting on with peers, management etc.
• Control; do they feel in control of their working day?
• Change; how is the business managing changes and how are they coping with them?

Reasonable Adjustments.  Once the causes of stress are established, reasonable adjustments can be made.  Adjustments may be temporary until the person feels they can cope or permanent if the demands of the role are clearly unsustainable.  Like a regular Risk Assessment, they key is to identify the risks and establish what can be done to remove, reduce or control them.

Phased Returns.  Phased returns may involve shorter hours, removal and gradual re-introduction of job-role elements.  Providing mentors and checking-in regularly (versus checking-up) can all help to prevent relapse and increase the likelihood of a faster and full recovery.  The persons relationship with their manager is a key factor in the speed of return.

Wellness Action Plans (WAP).  Whether work-related or not, encouraging employees to complete a WAP can help promote wellness in already healthy employees and help those suffering or returning from a mental ill-health absence by looking at many aspects of the persons situation and how wellness can be sustained or how they can be supported back towards wellness during difficult times.

Coaching for Personal causes.  For non-work-related stress, managers can use a coaching approach.  Coaching identifies personal recovery aims, realistic behavioural options and encouraging practical steps to act and move towards recovery.   Helping employees identify what is causing their stress, why it is stressful to them, how they can tackle it and where they can go for help and support is key. 

The Bio-Psycho-Social Model (BPS).  This important model recognises the biological, psychological and social aspects in the onset of mental ill-health issues and in the move back towards wellness.  Unhelpful behaviours in the three areas are identified and the person coached or encouraged to move towards more helpful behaviours.  The question: “Is what the person is doing biologically, psychologically and socially……helpful or not?”

Biological:  Diet, hydration, drugs and stimulants, medications, exercise, sleep and relaxation.

Psychological:  “What is the person believing and saying about themselves, other people and the world?”

Social:  “How are their relationships and interactions with other people?”

Employee Assistance Programmes (EAP).   EAP’s offer a wide range of support aimed at providing practical help to an individual, including common mental health issues, bereavement, financial concerns and many more challenges people face in their day to day lives.  Other support includes Human Resource assistance, Mental Health First Aiders, Wellbeing champions, useful websites, helplines and support groups.

Mental Health First Aiders (M.H.F.Aiders).  M.H.F.Aiders can provide temporary support to struggling individuals and where necessary signpost them to sources of help and support.  It is important that they are not viewed as counsellors or provided to avoid fixing the real sources of stress in the workplace.

Anxiety and Depression.  When stress is repeated or prolonged it can cause anxiety and depression which are mental illnesses requiring diagnosis by a mental health professional.  While medications are a key factor in many people’s recovery, a combination of biological improvements, psychologically healthier beliefs and internal language combined with better social interactions are likely to be more effective than the sole prescription of anti-depressants for example in the treatment of anxiety or depression.  It is therefore important to ensure employees are receiving tailored care appropriate to their lives and personal situation.  What is helpful in an individual’s recovery, is unique to that individual.

With the right support in place, positive mental health and wellbeing can be regained and sustained.  Arco Professional Safety Services offer several courses to help clients develop a comprehensive approach towards Stress and Mental Wellbeing including;

• Stress and Mental Wellbeing for Managers
• Mental Wellbeing Awareness for Employees
• MHFAider training.

30th June 2025

Arco’s Hull Facility Brings Practical Safety Training to Yorkshire

Arco, the UK and Ireland’s leading safety products and services company, marks the start of its Hull-based safety training courses with dramatic working at height display.

Arco’s Professional Safety Services team showcased their expertise with a dramatic working at height demonstration at the Hull Training Centre in June, , before traversing the ropes to deliver a striking visual display.

This state-of-the-art facility is the latest investment in Arco’s Professional Safety Services, designed to provide critical, hands-on training for workers in high-risk environments across Yorkshire and beyond. Working at height training takes place on Arco’s NDC rooftop, offering participants expert instruction and impressive views across the Humber. The site’s new training unit also houses a dedicated confined space practical facility (pictured).

The Hull centre is an expansion of Arco’s National Distribution Centre (NDC) site, integrating a dedicated learning academy and a new Customer Discovery Centre. This comprehensive hub combines product expertise, industry collaboration, practical and classroom training, with blended learning between both facilities.

Specialising in confined space and working at height, the facility features a confined space labyrinth and safe rooftop access for practical exercises. It also includes two modern classrooms, shower facilities, and onsite parking.

Key Training Courses Available in Hull:

• Confined Space: Working in Low Risk, Entrant and Entry Controller for Medium Risk.

• Working at Height: Courses ranging from rooftop safety to ladder safety.

• First Aid: Emergency First Aid at Work, First Aider at Work, First Aid at Height.

• General Health & Safety: Including Respiratory, IOSH courses and workplace compliance training.

Arco’s confined space and working at height courses are accredited by a range of recognised bodies, including City & Guilds, MATS, IRATA, CITB, and the Ladder Association. Accreditation varies by course, please refer to individual course details for specific awarding bodies.

Arco also offers a blended learning approach, incorporating e-learning, video conferencing, and virtual reality modules. Additionally, Arco Professional Safety Services provides mobile confined space units, a result of a £200,000 investment in 2023, capable of simulating diverse risks for on-site bespoke training.

Jamie Sadler, Commercial Director at Arco Professional Safety Services, commented: “We have invested significantly in our NDC site this year to make safety more accessible for our customers. This new centre of excellence demonstrates Arco’s approach to the future of health and safety; putting innovation, convenience and high-standards at the forefront.

“Working at height and confined spaces remain the most dangerous environments and therefore they require expert training and support. Access to bespoke training that provides people with the correct skills and capabilities to carry out their work safely is essential. Whether it is equipment, training or support, our experienced teams offer a complete solution.”

Steve Dawson, Training Manager from Arco, added: “We are delighted to deliver training that builds valuable skills for local people, supporting both their personal development and the needs of businesses in the community.”

For a full list of training courses available in Hull and to book now, please visit: https://www.arcoservices.co.uk/training

Telecoms Rigging Promo Video

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LINK TO ENTRY FORM

Arco, the UK’s leading safety expert has opened its latest safety training centre in Hull, to serve businesses in the Yorkshire region and beyond. The new Hull based site is the latest investment in Arco’s Professional Safety Services training facility, tailored to workers across a range of sectors including the highest risk industries.  

This new practical training facility follows Arco’s ongoing investment in its National Distribution Centre (NDC) site to develop its learning academy and brand new Customer Discovery Centre that brings together product expertise, training and industry collaboration under one roof.  

Specialising in confined space and working at height “hands-on” training, the facility includes a confined spaces labyrinth and working at height with, safe access to the rooftop of our National Distribution Centre, alongside a multitude of classroom-based courses, increasing accessibility to critical safety education.  

As part of the Arco Professional Safety Services offering, Arco also provide mobile confined space units for bespoke training in any location. Following Arco’s £200,000 investment in 2023, these  state of the art units can simulate risks in different environments for businesses across Yorkshire.   

The new site also offers courses with a blended learning approach including:  

• Classroom training in Arco’s learning academy 

• E-learning and video Conference   

• Practical Training  

• Virtual Reality Modules  

Jamie Sadler, Commercial Director at Arco Professional Safety Services, said: “We have invested significantly in our NDC site this year to make safety more accessible for our customers. This new centre of excellence demonstrates Arco’s approach to the future of health and safety; putting innovation, convenience and high-standards at the forefront.  

“Working at height and confined spaces remains the most dangerous environments and therefore they require expert training and support. Access to bespoke training that provides people with the correct skills and capabilities to carry out their work safely is essential. Whether it is equipment, training or support, our experienced teams offer a complete solution.” 

To view the full list of training courses available in Hull, please visit: https://www.arcoservices.co.uk/training

We had the pleasure of hosting the team from:

BHSEA  (Birmingham Health, Safety & Environment Association):

BHSEA Birmingham Health, Safety & Environment Association | BHSEA were at our Eccleshall site yesterday (10th March) where our Subject Matter Experts, Mike Clayton and Brian Grunes gave practical presentations and demonstrations on Work at Height and Confined Spaces.

The feedback was fantastic and we welcomed the chance to support such a great group of safety professionals.

RECALL OF NEWTON, NEWTON FAST, AND NEWTON EASYFIT HARNESSES – EUROPEAN VERSIONS

Recall of certain batches of the European Version of NEWTON harnesses manufactured in 2022 (references C073AA01 C073AA02), NEWTON FAST (references C073CA01 and C073CA02) and NEWTON EASYFIT (references C073EA00, C073EA01, and C073EA02) due to a nonconforming batch of FAST LT buckles that could lead to a fatal fall. Immediately stop using the harnesses affected by this recall.

Last updated March 4, 2025

An IRATA Assessor & Instructor Workshop will be held at Arco Professional Safety Services Ltd, Unit 5, Raleigh Hall Industrial Estate, Eccleshall, Staffordshire, ST21 6JL on Saturday, 15 March 2025 at 09:00 AM. The IRATA compulsory workshop agenda will be followed.

For further booking information, please contact Steven Dawson at Steve.Dawson@arcoservices.co.uk or by telephone 07723023920.

Working at height specialists from Arco Professional Safety Services have provided expert safety support for the return of classic ITV game show You Bet!

The reboot of the show, presented by Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern, features members of the public showing off their extraordinary skills, with celebrity panellists betting on whether each contestant can complete their chosen challenge.

The first episode, which aired on Saturday night on ITV1, featured a “Climber vs Car” challenge, with gym instructor Mila Stanzani scaling the exterior wall of a multi-storey car park while professional driver Michelle Westby raced her to the top and back down again.

Arco’s team of working at height experts, led by Mike Clayton, were on hand at the new Shinfield Studios in Reading to help ensure the safety of everyone involved in the challenge.

The team provided advice to production company Rollercoaster Television on making the climb safe, provided the necessary safety equipment, assisted with protecting a camera operator and managed Mila’s climbing rope to ensure her safety during the challenge.

Mike Clayton, technical lead (working at height) at Arco Professional Safety Services, said: “It was an amazing experience for the team to be involved in this challenge for the reboot of You Bet!

“Throughout the years, we’ve been trusted to carry out working at height training and supervision for some thrilling and critical projects, but this was one of the most exciting we have been a part of in recent times. Mila took to the task with a great amount of confidence and the team at ITV were great to work with.”

Sarah Boyce, Head of Production for Rollercoaster, said: “In the early planning stages it was clear we needed experts in working at heights. Arco, being an ITV vetted contractor, were immediately recommended by our inhouse health and safety team.

“They went on to provide expert climbing knowledge and clear advice on how to make this challenge work. They quickly proved to us – and Mila – that they could be relied on 100% and were a big part of the success of this spectacular challenge.”

To find out if Mila won her challenge, watch Episode 1 of You Bet! on demand on ITVX.

Find out more about Arco’s expert working at height services

Arco, the UK and Ireland’s leading safety expert, has reduced its carbon emissions by 21.2 per cent in a single year, its biggest annual decrease to date.

The reduction in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions substantially outperformed Arco’s 5.5 per cent target, and is a significant step towards the company’s goal of net zero emissions by 2045.

The record carbon reduction is one of several significant achievements highlighted in Arco’s 2024 Sustainability Report, released today.

The 2024 report shows considerable progress in the company’s sustainability strategy, A Safe Tomorrow, which sets out Arco’s aims to have a positive impact on people and the planet, while helping customers meet their own sustainability goals

Initiatives such as the installation of solar panels on Arco buildings have helped the company reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and cut its carbon footprint over the past year.

Focusing on efficient use of water in its global operations has also seen Arco reduce its water use by 22.6 per cent.

In 2025, Arco will take this commitment to carbon reduction further by setting science-based targets in line with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), including for Scope 3 emissions related to manufacturing, transportation and end-of-life product management.

Responsible Choice

Importantly, Arco reduced carbon and water use while increasing sales of its Responsible Choice ranges of PPE and workwear by 200 per cent. These products feature verifiable sustainability claims or independent certifications, making it easier for businesses to buy more responsible products. 

Arco also hit its annual target for use of “Better Textiles”. These more sustainable textiles made up 10 per cent of Arco’s total textile sales in FY24, and the company aims to increase this to 17.5 per cent by 2025, aligned with The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) Textiles 2030 initiative.

Circularity and digital innovation

Working with customers and stakeholders, Arco is driving product circularity, developing closed-loop systems, expanding recycling and take-back schemes and providing garment life-extension services, such as laundry and repair.

The company has also invested in its digital capabilities to improve sustainability, utilising data-driven insights and embedding traceability and transparency in its Responsible hi-vis and workwear ranges.

Less waste and packaging

Arco has continued to reduce packaging and waste, removing single-use plastics and moving to more plain cardboard packaging. In FY24, the company recycled about 90 per cent of cardboard, plastic, clothing and building waste produced at its premises.

Commitment to communities

Activity such as volunteering and other support for charities saw Arco generate £39.3 million of social value in FY24, including £4 million in Hull and East Yorkshire. The company has continued to support long-standing partners such as Macmillan Cancer Support and in May 2024 launched a new partnership with The Mental Health Foundation.

Guy Bruce, chief executive officer at Arco, said: “At Arco, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. From the energy powering our buildings, to the materials that make up our products, to the way we work with our suppliers, we’re always thinking of new ways to help secure a safer tomorrow.

“As Experts in Safety, Arco’s core purpose has always been to keep people safe at work. And with a clear commitment to sustainability and social responsibility, we truly believe we can help secure a safer tomorrow for people, businesses and the planet.”

Download the Arco Sustainability Report 2024 and read more at arco.co.uk/sustainability

Arco Professional Safety Services is installing two new training towers at its safety centre in Manchester, allowing people in the area to access a wider range of training courses in working at height.

Work is under way on the construction of the two towers, one internal and one external, which together with other new working at height systems, will enable the Trafford Park Safety Centre to deliver additional professional training courses, including:

• MATS: Basic Tower Climber and Rescue
• PASMA: Mobile Access Scaffold Towers
• IRATA: Industrial Rope Access

The centre’s training rooms will also be refurbished to accommodate more health and safety courses, including first aid, fire marshal and IOSH training.

Jamie Sadler, commercial director at Arco Professional Safety Services, said: “Since opening in January 2022, our Trafford Park Safety Centre has been highly praised by customers, offering a one-stop solution for all their safety needs.

“Building on this success, we’re expanding our training facilities to offer an even wider range of courses, which our customers have been asking us for.

“We can’t wait to welcome everyone to the improved safety centre in the new year.”

The Trafford Park Safety Centre provides purpose-built training facilities for courses in working at height and in confined spaces, as well as health and safety training, alongside a retail store for Arco’s range of PPE, workwear and other safety products.

The upgrades to the internal training area are set to be completed by the end of January 2025, followed by the external tower enhancements. The additional courses will be available to book soon after at www.arcoservices.co.uk/training/