UK’s leading safety services company begins offering new option to its Rooftop Worker Scheme training course approved by the Mast & Tower Safety (MATS) Group and accredited by Energy & Utility Skills Register (EUSR).

Arco Professional Safety Services has created an industry approved blended learning option to an existing working at height training course. The course aims to provide delegates with the skills and experience required to safely access flat roofs in protected and unprotected areas. The blended option allows delegates of the course to complete the educational section of the course online, previously the entire course had to be completed in-person in a structured one-day session.

This blended learning version of the Rooftop Worker Scheme provides a flexible learning approach with bespoke integrated virtual reality exercises. It is also more cost effective than the traditional course at a 20% reduced rate while offering the same quality of learning, experience and certification.

As a blended learning course, participants will be required to complete seven online modules and a practical training and assessment session at one of four possible sites. The online portion of the course has training material that can be accessed by delegates as often as required. Once completed, candidates have 90 days to attend a practical assessment at one of Arco’s state of the art Safety Centres in Stafford, Bracknell, Trafford or Linlithgow (Scotland).

Topics covered in the Rooftop Worker Scheme syllabus include:

• Legislation for working at height
• Risk assessment awareness
• Rooftop hazards and control measures
• PPE – pre use checks and fitting harness, helmet, fall arrest and work positioning lanyards
• Safe use of portable ladders
• Edge protection
• Horizontal and vertical systems (fixed and temporary)
• Climbing techniques using harnesses, lanyards, and fixed systems
• Awareness of emergency procedures

Falls from height continued to be the number one cause of work-related deaths in 2023 according to the latest statistics from the Health & Safety Executive (HSE).

Steve Dawson, Manager – Working at Height Training at Arco Professional Safety Services, said: “When it comes to working from height, regard for safety is paramount. We’re proud to be able to offer this brand-new training course carefully designed with the considerations to keep people safe when working on rooftops.

As industry leaders in working at height practices, Arco understands the necessity to provide these learning opportunities with specialist support to ensure the safety of workers where it matters most.”

This course is designed for all personnel that are required to access flat roof areas using a variety of access systems and harness-based fall protection equipment during their duties. The Rooftop Worker Scheme certificate will be valid for three years upon completion of the course.

To find out more about this course, see upcoming course dates and to enquire about booking, visit: https://www.arcoservices.co.uk/training/course-finder/working-at-height-training/rooftop-safety-training/rooftop-safety-blended-learning

Ultra link Safety Alert

User Inspection Notice – UltraLink LK100A1.2 & LK101A1.2 button assembly
We have been advised of a single incident of a button assembly failure on the LK100A1.2. Due to the risk of unintentional opening of the device, which could result in a life-threatening situation, we ask you to stop using the device and immediately conduct the inspection process detailed below.

Please Download PDF for process

Roofing supplies firm fined £20,000 after workers fall from height
January 26, 2021

A roofing supplies firm and its director have been handed fines after two workers fell from a tower scaffold, sustaining serious injuries
Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard how on 27 November 2018, two employees of roofing supplies firm, Rooffabs Direct Ltd had been working with Paul McMahon, the sole director of the company, to install signage at retail premises on Bury New Road, Prestwich. The employees used a tower scaffold to carry out the work.

During the afternoon, when McMahon was no longer on-site, the tower scaffold moved away from the building and the two employees fell approximately two metres, suffering fractures to their legs and ankles.

HSE investigation
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the tower scaffold had not been erected by someone with suitable training. There were missing guard rails on the scaffold and no outriggers in place at the time of the incident.

The roofing supplies firm also failed to report the incident as required by the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR).

Rooffabs Direct Limited pleaded guilty to breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and section 3(1) of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Regulations 2013. The company was fined £20,000.

Paul McMahon pleaded guilty under section 37 to breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and section 3(1) of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Regulations 2013.

McMahon was ordered to complete 100 hours community service, pay compensation orders of £500 each for the two injured persons and was ordered to pay costs of £1,000.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector David Norton, said: “Falls from height remain one of the most common causes of work-related fatalities and severe injuries in this country. The risks associated with work at height are well known.

“This incident could so easily have been avoided by having a suitably trained person put up the tower scaffold and ensuring that the required guardrails and outriggers were in place.”

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Gig economy workers are entitled to the same health and safety protection as permanent colleagues, the UK High Court has ruled.

Last week, the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) ??????won a judicial review against the UK government calling for workers in the UK gig economy to be granted the rights they are entitled to under European safety and health law, including the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE).

The IWGB represents about 5000 members working in the gig economy, including van drivers, couriers and taxi drivers. The union argued that the COVID-19 pandemic had made it more urgent to address the gap in protection.

In a groundbreaking decision, Mr Justice Chamberlain ruled that those in the gig economy must be provided with PPE by the business they are working for and that they had the right to stop work in response to serious and imminent danger.

Commenting on the judgment, IOSH called for a swift response by the government to take steps to ensure that workers have the same protection as employees.

It said that businesses should already be offering protection to all workers, whether they are permanent or temporary.

'IOSH welcomes recognition from the High Court that "gig" workers should have the same occupational safety and health protections as employees and emphasises that responsible organisations should already be protecting workers during this pandemic, to support both occupational and public health,' commented Richard Jones, head of policy and regulatory engagement at IOSH. 

'No one should have their safety and health put at risk by the work they do, regardless of whether they are on a permanent contract or a gig worker. We would like to see a swift response to this to ensure this is the case,' he warned.

'It’s vital that those in the gig economy who provide services to the public, such as road transport drivers, taxi drivers and chauffeurs, are not exposed to COVID-19 at work.'

IWGB general secretary Henry Chango Lopez argued that health and safety at work has never been more important. 'It is crucial that businesses know they must protect the health and safety of their workers and that the government brings the criminal prosecutions necessary to enforce this law,' he said.

The Health and Safety Authority’s Annual Review of Workplace Injury, Illness and Fatality presents the most recently available data on occupational deaths, injuries and illnesses in Ireland.

Key points include:

• There were 47 fatal work-related accidents were reported to the Authority in 2019, representing a substantial increase from 2018, which was the lowest year on record with 39 fatal accidents.
• Agriculture, which accounted for 19 of the 47 deaths, remains the most dangerous sector in which to work, with the evidence suggesting that older farmers are most at risk.
• The number of fatalities in the construction sector more than doubled in 2019.
• The number of work-related non-fatal injuries also increased in 2019, with 9,335 reported to the Authority.
• Manual handling leading to internal injuries was the most common cause of workplace accidents in 2019, representing almost a third (29%) of all non-fatal accidents reported to the Authority.
• Slips or falls were the second most common at 24%.
• The workforce is getting older which is presenting new challenges. Of the 47 fatal accidents in 2019, 16 (34%) were aged over 65. This age group was particularly prominent in the Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing sector, where 13 (59%) of the fatal accidents reported occurred to victims aged 65 years or more.
• In 2019, the Authority hosted a summit on the Future of Workers and Work, which looked at the challenges and opportunities that new ways of working present for workers and employers. The ageing workforce was highlighted as a particular group requiring focus in the workplace now and in the future.
• The Authority urges all employers to implement tailored health and safety policies designed with the unique requirements of older workers in mind, and also stresses that people must also recognise their own limitations as they age which may affect their ability to work.
• One area that saw improvements in 2018 was the number of work days lost to work-related non-fatal injuries. This decreased by 13%, from 709,544 in the five-year average for 2014-2018 to 620,800 in 2018, with men more likely to be absent from work as a result of injury compared to women.
• In 2018, there were 9.4 non-fatal injuries leading to four or more days absence from work for every 1,000 male workers compared with 6.5 per 1,000 female workers.

Source

Arco named as Most Influential Team in Health & Safety

The SHP Award for Most Influential Team in Health & Safety has been announced, with the team from Arco being crowned the winner.

SHP Awards Most InfluentialNew for 2020, SHP’s Most Influential Team award recognises the team that has worked together most effectively to improve occupational health, safety and/or workplace wellbeing. This could be within their own industry, within society or in health & safety profession more widely.

The Arco team was chosen as the winner from a list of six finalists for SHP’s Most Influential Team Award, by the SHP Awards judging panel. Most Influential Team is brought to you as part of the wider SHP Awards, in collaboration with the HSE and IATP.

Arco’s NDC2 became operational on 10 February 2020. On 11 March the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic and a week later the UK went into lockdown. PPE was in short supply and while the government looked to solve the stock shortage – the Arco team, with critical worker status, got to work fast, ensuring the National Distribution Centre was fully operational and, importantly, that it was COVID-secure.

Arco NDC2

The judges were impressed with the ‘fantastic’ response to the pandemic under ‘immense pressure’ from the government and the ‘significant challenges’ it caused to its key workers. Arco’s operations went from 24/5 to 24/7 in less than two days, causing ‘disruption’ in order to maintain service and cope with demand, which saw dispatch capabilities more than double. The team successfully distributed 300 pallets a day with 8,000 parcels, distributing over 140m face masks, 18m gloves, over 0.5m coveralls and 0.5m hygiene products.

Arco’s ‘important and leading’ work in identifying PPE that did not meet the required standards and people’s needs, and its work educating other bodies was also highlighted. Judges also noted this is something that Arco have been relentless about even pre-pandemic. Arco experts sit on a number of key committees including the BSI British Standards, CEN European Standards Committee and the ISO International Standards Organisation who work tirelessly to uphold the standards of the profession and raise awareness around the dangers of fake PPE, including encouraging those in need of critical supplies to ask for the correct supporting documentation and providing advice on how to do so.

Arco pack

During the second wave of coronavirus, Arco continues to play a leading role advising and supporting public bodies, as well as customers in critical industries, on the testing and supply of quality PPE. In due course there will be a public inquiry into the government’s handling of the pandemic. This is the right course of action, since it is only by understanding what happened that Arco believes we can draw the necessary lessons to be better prepared for the future. Arco will be submitting evidence of its own experiences during the crisis and the lessons learned, focussing on the need for better coordination and engagement with external stakeholders, including suppliers and those procuring equipment across the UK safety industry.

In August, Arco won a contract for the supply of 232 million surgical masks, 6 million FFP3 respirator masks and 2 million visors to Scotland’s Health and Social Care. Alongside its commitment to supply customers with PPE over the course of the pandemic, the judging panel picked up how Arco has donated pallets of hygiene products to a local charity working with residents, community groups and local businesses to alleviate food and fuel poverty, particularly prevalent over the last 6 months. The firm also recently announced a £250,000 donation to the National Emergencies Trust to help support future national disasters, as well as 42 grants of £1,000 donated to local charities nominated by Arco colleagues.

Arco NDC2

Neil Griffiths, Divisional Director of Logistics, said: “As a logistics team, we have expertise in, and are ultimately responsible for the receipt, storage, picking, packing and distribution of products to keep our customers safe.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, Arco chartered 10 aircraft and 35 special airfreight shipments full of vital equipment.

“Our customers include the NHS, ambulance services, local authorities, and other public health bodies and critical industries. With key worker status, the team has worked tirelessly to create a COVID-secure environment in our National Distribution Centre, so that we can continue to operate safely and effectively and continue supplying PPE and products to protect our customers and the country.”

“We are delighted to be honoured with SHP’s award for the Most Influential Team in Health and Safety. The response from our logistics team throughout the pandemic has been tremendous. They have worked tirelessly, working additional shifts,  weekends and bank holidays with COVID-secure measures to ensure we were able to protect our customers and front line responders. This award and the recognition is truly a testament to their dedication to keep people safe. Thank you to SHP, the judges, HSE and IATP for your comments and for the acknowledgement of Arco’s work.”

David Evison, Managing Director, added: “Receiving this award is a great honour for Arco, and recognises both the expertise and the contribution that we have made throughout the pandemic.  Our expertise is evidenced throughout every stage of the PPE supply chain and I’ve been impressed by the way the whole company has worked together. Colleagues have gone the extra mile to keep people safe and support local communities. Our thanks to SHP for endorsing our work to keep people safe, guide the Health and Safety industry and support the communities which we operate in.”

Source

Wholesalers fined £120,000 for failings that led to fall

A Glasgow based company has admitted a health and safety offence after an employee fell through a fragile plasterboard ceiling, sustaining life-changing injuries.

A 24-year-old warehouseman was retrieving stock from a mezzanine in his company’s warehouse when he stepped on to an unguarded area of fragile plasterboard, Glasgow Sheriff Court was told. The incident happened on 5 November 2017.

The employee fell through the plasterboard, landing on a concrete floor at the bottom of a stairwell. A drop of more than five metres. He was taken to hospital where he was initially unresponsive and diagnosed as having a skull fracture, bleeding on the brain and other significant injuries.

He has been left with cognitive difficulties, hearing loss, facial palsy and problems tasting food and the family has been significantly impacted.

The case was investigated by Glasgow City Council who found that the company had a generic risk assessment for a wide variety of activities within the premises. The risk assessment did not refer to or identify any risks associated with working on or accessing the mezzanine level. The company had not implemented any control measures for employees working near the plasterboard. Stock was being stored very close to the plasterboard and employees were regularly called upon to access this area to retrieve stock.

The investigation found that it was entirely foreseeable that an employee might step onto this unguarded plasterboard. The incident had happened as a result of the company’s failure to identify the risks of staff accessing the stock items stored near to the plasterboard ceiling on the mezzanine area.

Since the incident, the company has changed its working practices.

Alfa (Wholesale) Limited, a wholesale grocery, catering supply and household goods company, pled guilty to a contravention of Sections 2(1) and Section 33(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. It was fined £120,000.

Alistair Duncan, Head of Health and Safety Division said: “This was a foreseeable and avoidable accident resulting in the severe injury and permanent impairment of a young man. It is easy to imagine this having been a fatality.  “Alfa (Wholesale) Limited accepted liability and the Crown accepted their guilty plea to the contraventions of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

“This was an accident that resulted in life changing injuries that could have been avoided if the appropriate measures had been in place at the time.

“Hopefully this prosecution and the sentence will remind other employers that failure to fulfil their obligations can have serious consequences and that they will be held to account for their failings.”

Source

Working at height courses

Gig economy workers are entitled to the same health and safety protection as permanent colleagues, the UK High Court has ruled.

Last week, the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) ??????won a judicial review against the UK government calling for workers in the UK gig economy to be granted the rights they are entitled to under European safety and health law, including the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE).

The IWGB represents about 5000 members working in the gig economy, including van drivers, couriers and taxi drivers. The union argued that the COVID-19 pandemic had made it more urgent to address the gap in protection.

In a groundbreaking decision, Mr Justice Chamberlain ruled that those in the gig economy must be provided with PPE by the business they are working for and that they had the right to stop work in response to serious and imminent danger.

Commenting on the judgment, IOSH called for a swift response by the government to take steps to ensure that workers have the same protection as employees.

It said that businesses should already be offering protection to all workers, whether they are permanent or temporary.

'IOSH welcomes recognition from the High Court that "gig" workers should have the same occupational safety and health protections as employees and emphasises that responsible organisations should already be protecting workers during this pandemic, to support both occupational and public health,' commented Richard Jones, head of policy and regulatory engagement at IOSH. 

'No one should have their safety and health put at risk by the work they do, regardless of whether they are on a permanent contract or a gig worker. We would like to see a swift response to this to ensure this is the case,' he warned.

'It’s vital that those in the gig economy who provide services to the public, such as road transport drivers, taxi drivers and chauffeurs, are not exposed to COVID-19 at work.'

IWGB general secretary Henry Chango Lopez argued that health and safety at work has never been more important. 'It is crucial that businesses know they must protect the health and safety of their workers and that the government brings the criminal prosecutions necessary to enforce this law,' he said.

Source

Arco warns against an invisible workforce
UK safety experts advise on keeping workers visible this winter.

Arco hi-vis

With shorter days and bad weather approaching, workers are spending more of their day working in dangerous conditions. Winter brings longer hours working in the dark, and poor weather such as mist and fog, increasing the importance of keeping workers visible. Arco wants individuals and business owners to understand the heightened risk potential and how worker safety can be compromised.

People who spend time working outdoors should be prepared to not only ensure that they are warm, but that they can be seen. Ill-equipped employees are at a highly increased risk of being victim to a workplace injury if they are not noticeable.

Every year there are over 2,500 RIDDOR incidents involving transport in the workplace and being struck by a vehicle is one of the most common causes of fatal workplace accidents. Hi-vis clothing attracts the attention of vehicle operators, gives them more time to react and reduces the risk of people being hit. It also provides workers with the confidence they need to carry out their job safely, and employers the knowledge that their workforce is protected. It is therefore essential that employers ensure workers are supplied with EN compliant and role-suitable hi-visibility clothing.

Arco advises that in some situations, a hi-vis vest may be all that’s required to keep a worker safe, however people particularly at risk may need full body hi-vis clothing. It’s important that a thorough risk assessment is carried out in all instances to assess the type and level of risks workers may face. The risks should be identified, engineered out if possible and then suitable PPE as a final preventative measure. The higher risk the environment, the more hi-vis clothing is required. Hi-vis should be suitable for the job, comfortable for the wearer and it shouldn’t interfere with other PPE. Genuine hi-vis has two features which aid discernibility: fluorescent material providing day-time visibility, and retro-reflective tape which reflects light directly back toward light sources. Whilst dark conditions seem the most natural time to wear hi-vis, it should be worn in all light conditions to ensure workers are protected.

The safety expert warns that it’s crucial to review the condition of hi-vis clothing regularly, to ensure it remains fit for purpose.

Hi-vis clothing is typically worn in tough environments, and it must be able to withstand these and maintain its effectiveness. Clothing should be kept clean and checked regularly for defects, and replaced if damaged.

The EN standard for hi-vis clothing is EN 20471, which sets the minimum standards of visual performance and durability needed for high visibility clothing worn in the workplace. The standard is based on a series of tests including colour fastness, colour measurement, dimensional stability, reflective tape testing and garment assessment, all of which affect whether hi-vis offers the highest possible level of protection (class 3), or low level protection (class 1).

Arco wants employers to understand that hi-visibility clothing is a cost-effective way to safeguard workers from paying the ultimate price.

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