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/

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

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.”

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