In the drive to deliver Vision Zero, MPA's Health & Safety Committee has identified Working at Height as one of 'The Fatal 6'; the high consequence hazards that have been the main cause of fatalities and serious injuries and incidents within the industry over the last decade. To learn more visit www.safequarry.com/home/fatal-6.aspx.
Falls from height continue to be the single biggest cause of workplace fatalities in the UK with HSE statistics showing 35 deaths in 2021/22 (www.hse.gov.uk/statistics). Even when a fall is from a height of less than two metres, fatalities or life-changing injuries can occur.
Guide to Safe Working at Height Handbook
This handbook has been produced to outline how the potential hazards associated with work at height activities can be either eliminated or mitigated. Based on the hierarchy of control, the handbook provides ‘clear, simple and smart’ guidance for those managing Work at Height.
An introduction is provided for each element of the hierarchy of control, along with examples of good practice and questions every site should be asking. The guidance should be considered when conducting a risk assessment and conducting a work at height safety review. The handbook is designed for use by managers, employees, and contractors within the mineral products industry.
Working at Height Safely - Employee Guide
All workplace falls from height are avoidable and you have the ability to stop an accident before it occurs. This clear, simple, smart booklet provides advice for employees on how they can avoid danger and keep themselves and their colleagues safe by applying the hierarchy of control for all work at height activities.
MPQC Work at Height e-learning module - free to access
A complementary Work at Height e-learning module has been developed by MPQC and is free to access www.mpqc-nexus.co.uk/connect.
Tony Entwistle, MPA’s Health and Safety Manager said “Even those companies who may think they have already rolled out this issue might consider re-auditing or repeating the campaign focus. Experience shows that either people begin to forget or changes aren't fully embedded. Why not consider carrying out a company/site audit, working together with site staff to identify gaps and put together a scheme of planned improvements. Then, use the handbook, e-learning module and other resources to hold training sessions or discussions with your workforce and provide them with copies of the Employees’ guide. Even consider running a companywide campaign week.”
For more information contact:
Tony Entwistle - MPA's Health and Safety Manager
Colin Mew - Special Advisor - Health and Safety
Everything in one place on Safequarry.com
These resources, together with toolbox talks, videos, hot topics and incident alerts shared by the membership for the benefit of our industry, are available at Work at height (safequarry.com).
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
A copy of the ‘Guide to Safe Working at Height Handbook’ can be found here.
A copy of the ‘Working at Height Safely - Employee Guide’ can be found here.
About the Mineral Products Association:
The Mineral Products Association (MPA) is the trade association for the aggregates, asphalt, cement, concrete, dimension stone, lime, mortar and silica sand industries. With the merger of British Precast, and affiliation of CONSTRUCT, the UK Quality Ash Association (UKQAA), the Cement Admixtures Association (CAA), the British Association of Reinforcement (BAR), Eurobitume, MPA Northern Ireland, MPA Scotland and the British Calcium Carbonate Federation, it has a growing membership of 520 companies and is the sectoral voice for mineral products. MPA membership is made up of the vast majority of independent SME quarrying companies throughout the UK, as well as the 9 major international and global companies. It covers 100% of UK cement and lime production, 90% of GB aggregates production, 95% of asphalt and over 70% of ready-mixed concrete and precast concrete production. In 2018, the industry supplied £16 billion worth of materials and services to the Economy. It is also the largest supplier to the construction industry, which had annual output valued at £172 billion in 2018. Industry production represents the largest materials flow in the UK economy and is also one of the largest manufacturing sectors.
Media contact:
Elizabeth Clements - elizabeth.clements@mineralproducts.org