Company News
Arco chairman Thomas Martin has been honoured with a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising his “exceptional contribution to the safety and health industry over almost four decades”.
He was bestowed with the award at last night’s Safety and Health Excellence Awards, part of the three-day Health & Safety Event, where Arco, the UK’s leading safety company, has made its return for 2024.
Also on the night, Arco, which is celebrating its 140th anniversary, was commended in the Distributor of the Year award, with judges recognising the company’s commitment to customer satisfaction and its joined-up approach to safety products and services.
Thomas said he was honoured to accept the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Thomas Martin, chairman of Arco, said:
“I’ve always surrounded myself with experts, and this has enabled me to make an impact on our industry. Market leaders earn the right to comment, and career learnings ensure this is done responsibly. The award celebrates the first 36 years, and there’s plenty more to do; I’d better get on with it.”
As the fourth-generation leader of the family business, Thomas started his journey in a London advertising agency before joining Arco in 1988. With a clear passion for the business, Thomas assumed pivotal roles within Arco, including Trading Director (Safety) in 1993, Supply Chain Director in 1998, and Joint Managing Director in 2002, before taking the helm as Chairman in April 2017.
Presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award, host Dara Ó Briain said during Thomas’s time as Joint Managing Director and now Chairman, he had helped shape Arco into one of the “premier businesses in health and safety, by both scale and impact”.
Testament to this, Arco has led the industry on responses to global emergencies and best practice, pushing for regulatory changes and championing expertise and corporate responsibility.
In 2007, Arco joined the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) an alliance of companies, trade unions and non-profit organisations that aims to promote respect for the rights of workers worldwide. Arco is the first and only safety distributor to join the ETI.
During the Ebola outbreak in 2015, Arco was the leading PPE partner in the UK’s humanitarian response, supporting government agencies with advice on the correct products needed to keep volunteers safe but also in procuring and supplying the products to the front line.
Most recently, during the Covid-19 pandemic, Arco stepped up to secure additional PPE for frontline workers, while advising government bodies on PPE regulations and standard.
Following the crisis, Thomas gave evidence to the Public Accounts Committee on how the Government response could be improved for the future.
Company News
Arco Professional Safety Services has this week joined TikTok and Instagram
Followers can expect to see expert safety insights, product showcases, in-office challenges, exclusive looks behind the scenes, and much more.
The move into new social media channels is part of Arco’s continuing efforts to engage with customers across a wide range of platforms and reach its customers wherever they are.
The coming weeks will also see the launch of the Arco video podcast, featuring conversations with a varied line-up of guests, who will offer their perspectives on key topics in the world of safety.
Follow Arco Professional Safety Services on the social media channels below:
Company News
UK’s leading safety company will showcase responsible ranges and joined-up safety solutions at the NEC in Birmingham
Arco, the UK’s leading safety company, will be exhibiting at this year’s Health & Safety Event, scheduled to take place from the 30th April to 2nd May at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham.
The event takes place during a momentous year for both Arco and the health and safety industry, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) and Arco’s 140th anniversary.
Arco’s interactive exhibition can be found in Hall 4, Stand 4/G100 and has been designed to take visitors on a journey through the hierarchy of control, emphasising the importance of a joined-up approach to safety management. With a focus on consultancy, training, expert advice, compliance and sustainability, Arco aims to demonstrate its unparalleled safety expertise.
Visitors to the Arco stand can expect immersive experiences, including virtual reality demonstrations where they will be placed in realistic environments, highlighting hazards within working at height and confined spaces. The stand will also showcase Arco’s award-winning Responsible hi-vis and Responsible workwear product ranges, as well as its product-assurance process and independent UKAS-accredited laboratory.
Ahead of the event, Arco has been shortlisted in four categories for the 2024 Safety and Health Excellence Awards. Arco is nominated for: BSIF Product Innovation Award Safety Product Category (Non-PPE), Campaign of the Year, Distributor of the Year and Marketing Campaign of the Year, as well as sponsoring and judging this year’s inaugural Sustainable Company of the Year award. The winners will be announced during the award ceremony that will take place on the second night of the three-day Health & Safety Event.
Gareth Wray, Marketing Director at Arco, commented: “We are thoroughly excited to be attending The Health & Safety Event during such a special year for Arco and the industry. We have gone above and beyond to create a truly engaging experience for visitors, showcasing our expertise not only in sourcing and delivering quality and compliant products, but in driving forward sustainable practices and offering joined-up safety solutions.
“We look forward to interacting with the many attendees and sharing our expertise to drive positive change in safety practices.”
View Arco’s joined-up approach to safety management and our responsible approach to sustainability.
Company News
Abseiling The London Eye On Live TV
How Arco experts safely abseiled The London Eye to give the iconic structure a fresh coat of paint on BBC Breakfast.
Working at height specialists from Arco Professional Safety Services abseiled down the lastminute.com London Eye with BBC Breakfast presenter John Maguire to give the iconic attraction a fresh coat of paint on the first day of spring.
Positioned high above the capital, the Arco team worked at heights of 68m from the hub of the London Eye to help safely carry out the abseil and painting on live TV. The team had to utilise a range of work at height kit to ensure safe access and egress, including fall arrest lanyards, work positioning systems and personal suspension (abseil) equipment.
The full paint refresh, which takes place every three years, requires around 5,000 litres to cover the entirety of the 135m high observation wheel – roughly the equivalent of painting 1,660 cars. Taking a team of eight painters working five nights a week for six months, this iconic London landmark requires a staggering 9,360 hours of painting maintenance to look its best.
The Arco team consisted of Steve Dawson, work at height training manager, and Level 3 IRATA (Industrial Rope Access Trade Association) training instructors Pete Hancock and Chris Fricker.
Steve Dawson said: “The London Eye has been a great partner of ours for the past 20-25 years and it was a pleasure to work with the team on this event to showcase a British landmark and ensure it was carried out safely and securely.
“This event showcases the truly bespoke offering that we are able to deliver at Arco and demonstrates the strength and breadth of expertise within our team.”
Arco Professional Safety Services covers a complete range of safety solutions, including working at height, confined spaces and respiratory services. Visit www.arcoservices.co.uk for more information.
Company News
Arco Professional Safety Services is now an accredited provider of Lifting Engineers Equipment Association (LEEA) working at height training courses. This makes the safety services company the first UK training course provider to be accredited for working at height & rescue by the LEEA.
The Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) is established across the world as the leading trade association for all those involved in the lifting industry. Arco Professional Safety Services has been a trading member of this body since 2013 and offers a variety of working at height training courses that cover safe working practices and the correct usage of fall protection and fall arrest equipment. With working at height instances becoming more frequent in the lifting industry, the LEEA has collaborated with Arco Professional Safety Services to ensure those in the industry are trained in safe working methods.
The LEEA accredited working at height training courses that Arco Professional Safety Servies offers are:
- Working Safely at Height (one day)
- Rescue at Height (one day)
The Working Safely at Height course aims to educate delegates on the correct use of harnesses and fall protection equipment through both theoretical and practical training and assessments. The Rescue at Height course provides the knowledge and practical experience to perform rescues at height, examined through a simulated rescue under the supervision of an instructor.
Arco Professional Safety Services offers the two courses at all five of its Safety Centres located across the UK meaning all LEEA members can access the courses in a location convenient to them, with the reassurance that the training they receive will be of identical merit and content as their colleagues nationwide. In some cases, the training can also be completed at a customers’ site.
Steve Dawson, Training Manager at Arco Professional Safety Services, commented: “As working at height experts, we are always keen to expand and strengthen our safety training offering. Through discussions with the LEEA, we understood that working at height safety was a growing concern in the lifting industry that Arco Professional Safety Services was well placed to address.
No matter the industry, working at height safety should be a priority for all employers and this accreditation allows us to train and educate more people in the importance of correct working practices which we take pride in.”
To find out more about Arco’s working at height training offer, visit: https://www.arcoservices.co.uk/training/course-finder/working-at-height-training or to discuss booking one of the LEEA accredited courses, email rosie.webb@arcoservices.co.uk.
Company News
Arco Professional Safety Services Training Instructor, Bartek Biela, embarked on a pioneering expedition to Gunung Mulu National Park to support cave work efforts which could potentially lead to future confirmation of its status as the largest cave system in the world by volume.
3D laser scanning was used to measure the volume of sections of the Clearwater Cave system and unveiled a vast connection, almost a kilometre long, leading to a chamber previously believed to be a dead end in earlier expeditions, adding a new layer of mystery to the intricate Mulu cave system. Today, larger passages are harder to find but the systematic approach employed to surveying of the smaller openings allowed the cavers to add hundreds of meters of new data to the master survey.
The three-week expedition, which comprised of 22 dedicated cavers and scientists to survey the caves, undertake scientific research and exploration, has also led to significant findings on the condensation corrosive effects to fabrics and plastics.
Agents that are present in the Mulu caves environment have been found to cause significant degradation of glued seams, stitching and other man-made polymers. These acidic gases are being tested by UK and American cave scientists to establish the causes of significant degradation of glued seams, stitching and other man-made polymers.
Bartek Biela, Training Instructor at Arco Professional Safety Services, commented: “I am immensely grateful to have received the invite call to be part of this amazing opportunity, that would give me a chance to meet and cave with the original explorers of the area, an opportunity that one does not refuse.
This expedition has delivered promising insight into the cave system and important, possibly even groundbreaking scientific research, not to mention the beauty of the underground landscape that I have had a chance to photograph”.
Richard Walters, the Expedition Surveyor said: “Acknowledging the challenging conditions of Mulu, renowned for its punishing environmental factors—extreme heat, humidity, mud, and frequent rainfall—these explorers faced the rigorous task of navigating caves that often require multiple days underground. Despite these barriers, the cavers emerged with compelling results that suggest the Clearwater Cave system may be the largest by volume in the world.”
As part of Arco Professional Safety Services’ sponsorship, the expedition was equipped with eleven tackle bags which proved to be extremely durable in the corrosive environment of the Mulu caves.
Company News
Arco Professional Safety Services has launched its new website, making it easier for customers to access essential safety services, information and equipment.
As well as a more modern look and feel, the site offers better user navigation and a smoother experience on mobile devices.
Key improvements of the new website include:
Expert advice 
Easier access to consultancy advice, training, support services and equipment across Arco Professional Safety Services’ areas of expertise, including working at height, confined spaces and respiratory protection.
Training
Improved search and enhanced filtering options to help customers find the right courses, as well as a more efficient booking system.
Equipment shop
A better shopping experience with improved product search and filtering, making it easier to find and purchase safety equipment.
Equipment hire
More information on the equipment available to hire and the option to hire directly from the website, a feature that was not available on the previous site.
Jamie Sadler, Commercial Director at Arco Professional Safety Services, said: “This new website provides a seamless and intuitive platform for our customers to access our essential safety services and resources with ease.
“The team has been hard at work on the site behind the scenes, and we’re thrilled that customers can now enjoy the many improvements it offers.”
Existing customers will be asked to reset their passwords when signing in to the new site for the first time. All other existing sign-in details will remain the same.
Arco Professional Safety Services provide consultancy, training, services and equipment to manage complex and high-risk, high hazard scenarios.
Explore the new website: Arco Professional Safety Services
Company News
Arco Professional Safety Services, the UK’s leading safety products and services provider, is expanding its equipment hire capabilities nationwide with new funding into four fully stocked hire centres in key locations across the UK.
The expansion of hire products will enable customers to access a wider range of hire equipment from leading specialist suppliers, including quality-assured confined space, gas detection, respiratory protective and other fall arrest prevention equipment. All hire orders will be available direct from the Arco Bracknell, Doncaster, Linlithgow and Warrington Safety Centres or can be ordered and collected at local Arco stores via a new collection service.
Arco offers two types of hire solutions, standard hire, for short term requirements with a minimum contract of one week that can be extended as needed and contract hire that is offered for longer terms, up to five years, that also includes inspection, servicing and maintenance of equipment during the hire term.
Alongside this expanded hire proposition, customers can also purchase any of the equipment from Arco’s range of safety products should they require a permanent solution.
Gareth Liptrot, Hire & Maintenance Manager, Arco Professional Safety Services said: “As experts in safety, we are committed to providing a joined-up approach for customers offering accessible, high-quality equipment that can be acquired in the most convenient way.
“Our increased investment in hire stock at our nationwide Safety Centres and our new store collection service demonstrates our commitment to improving customer convenience and will enable greater access to quality stock and ease of service for any job our customers are undertaking.”
To find out more about Arco’s comprehensive hire offering, visit: https://www.arcoservices.co.uk/equipment/equipment-hire
Company News
New Safety Store Opens at Linlithgow Safety Centre
Arco has enhanced the joined-up safety offer at its safety centre in Linlithgow, in Scotland, with the opening of a new safety store.
In addition to providing state-of-the-art, purpose-built training facilities and an equipment hire and service centre, the safety centre will now also provide all the best personal protective equipment (PPE), workwear and workplace safety equipment from the biggest and most trusted brands like TROJAN, Snickers, Regatta, Puma, DeWALT, MASCOT, CAT and loads more.
Chris Lett, Sales Director, said:
“The opening of our new safety store at Linlithgow Safety Centre demonstrates our commitment to supporting the evolving needs of our customers, with an increased demand for our joined-up safety approach, which provides customers with access to both products and safety services from a single provider.”
Benefits of visiting Linlithgow Safety Centre, include:
- Wide range of products: Arco keeps the most popular items in stock, ready to take away.
- Price pledge: Enjoy everyday low prices. Arco is committed to ensuring its high-quality safety kit, workwear and site equipment is great value by giving customers the best possible price, first time.
- Expert advice: Arco’s safety experts are on hand to offer advice and help with product selection or alternatively customers can arrange to meet.
- Arco Professional Safety Services: The team of specialists can advise on consultancy, training, services and products for high-hazard work environments, including working at height, confined spaces and respiratory management. Click here
- Fit2Fit: Accredited face-fit testing facilities.
- Equipment service centre: Offering PPE inspections, equipment calibrations, servicing and maintenance, BA cylinder refills and equipment hire. Click here
- Suite of fully-equipped rooms: Ranging in size for training, seminars and meetings.
Customers can also shop an extensive range of over 30,000 products online, check stock availability and have confidence of getting the best deal. Click here
With free delivery on orders over £50 ex VAT, its simple to have everything you need delivered where you need it or arrange to collect in store. Alternatively, visit the Linlithgow Safety Store and pay by Arco account or card.
For more information about Linlithgow Safety Centre, click here
Company News
Arco Investment Expands Confined Space Training Offer
Arco has invested £200,000 in three new mobile confined space units to expand its national fleet and enable more bespoke training for customers working in hazardous environments across the country.
The new units will take Arco’s confined space solutions to small, medium and larger customers across the UK. The units allow scenarios that simulate a range of activities that workers may face in a confined space, such as repair and maintenance work in a tunnel. They have also been effectively used to support the training of rescue team members in how to recover casualties.
Arco instructors can replicate real-world scenarios that are relevant to key industries, enabling workers to face potential risks in a controlled environment. Other hazards, such as smoke, can also be released into the tunnel systems as an additional training factor, making them suitable to train workers in a variety of situations.
The trailer units are built around a seven-metre, triple-axle chassis and contain multiple tunnels, which have a combined length of over 30 metres. Internal cameras enable instructors to monitor the safety of delegates, in real time, and review exercises using playback after training sessions are complete.
Access to a comprehensive range of equipment, such as gas monitors, harnesses, breathing apparatus and working at height equipment is available to ensure bespoke environments, tailored to the requirements of each customer, can be supported.
The trailers enable customers to access the same equipment available at Arco’s safety training centres, including a range of entry equipment, such as tripods and Davit systems.
Utilising the multi and intermediate levels within the trailers, delegates can practically apply the skills they have been taught during the training in a safe and controlled environment.
The investment marks the latest step in Arco’s commitment to delivering ‘Joined-up Safety Solutions’ and follows the recent opening of its £2million Bracknell Safety centre, which provides health and safety services across the South of England, combining risk assessment, training and equipment provision all under one roof.
The new centre is home to state-of-the art confined space facilities, with a purpose-built labyrinth that features more than 30m of traverse capability and up to five metres of vertical access into multiple chambers to simulate relevant confined space hazards.
Since opening in November 2022, the centre has received strong positive feedback from customers and industry bodies. In addition to its confined space training offer, the Bracknell Safety Centre will offer working at height training outdoors from its recently installed 20m external tower.
Jamie Sadler, Commercial Director at Arco Professional Safety Services, said: “As experts in safety and a leading provider of confined space training across the country, Arco is committed to delivering an effortless experience for our customers.
“As the UK’s leading integrated safety products and services business, our investment in our new mobile confined space training units and in the facilities at our new state-of-the-art Bracknell Safety Centre allows us to deliver bespoke training and a joined-up approach to safety that meets even the most complex of challenges.”
Brian Grunes, Confined Space Subject Matter Expert and Training Manager at Arco Professional Safety Services, said: “Our new fleet of confined space training units allow us to bring our world-class training offer to our customers sites without losing any of the features that would be available at our safety centres.”
To find out more about Arco’s confined space training offer, click here or to discuss booking one of the mobile confined space units, email training@arcoservices.co.uk
To find out more about the joined-up safety offer at Arco’s new Bracknell Safety Centre, click here.