UKC

The Working at Height Regulations saga took a turn for the better the other day. In a meeting with the outdoor sector the following was acknowledged - "HSE recognises that the Adventure Activities sector has a very good safety record, and already has exemplary safety standards and guidance. Adherence to those standards should mean the sector will have not have problems fulfilling the requirements of the draft Regulations.

Although the statement on the HSE web site - http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2004/e04044.htm is ultimately non-commital, it does sound very positive. Well done to all those who sent in their responses from the thread on Rocktalk.

UKC News - http://www.ukclimbing.com/news/

In reply to UKC News: Sorry, but I sent mine through the Institute for Outdoor learning, who were on the case much earlier!

In reply to UKC News:

This is certainly good news, and the people named in that link are people who know what they're talking about. However, I still am not conviced that the HSE do. This quote worries me (with regards to excellent safety records in the outdoor instruction industry):

"Adherence to those standards should mean the sector will have not have problems fulfilling the requirements of the draft Regulations."

Not having read the documents in full (a quick search of the HSE website revealed many wishy-washy news articles regarding the propsed working at height legislation but no hard and fast details) I don't know how this statement will fulfill the remit of having multiple ropes for abseils and toproping (as has been mentioned in discussions on this topic before.)

In reply to James Jackson:

I agree, there is something slightly worrying about that line. It can read as a condecending, "you guys are good at all that safety stuff so you should have no problem with our new safety stuff".

In reply to UKC News: That reminds me. I emailed my MP directly, asking for his thoughts on this, and if he was going to sign the early day motion. He hasn't even responded.

David Hamilton, MP for Midlothian, you've lost my vote.

In reply to UKC News:

I, also, fear double talk in the 'every assistance short of help' vein. I am concerned that making an exception for outdoor instruction would prove all too difficult and this statement does not give categoric assurance.

In reply to mav not logged in:

I wrote to my MP (Helen Jackson), she replied and sent a letter to the minister for Industry Energy and Construction on my behalf and will be sending me any response she gets. I'm very impressed.

In reply to mav not logged in: Email is a sensitive one. MP's get millions of emails every day including loads of SPAM and it is difficult to read all of them. A better way to send a fax via http://www.faxyourmp.com. The chances are that at least a secretary will pick up the fax and send you an acknowledgement. Better luck next time.

PS There was once a league table of who the best responder to letters was. Can't remember who it was but there was only one MP who responded to 100% of faxes. Tony Blair was in there at around 47% which isn't bad given he is the PM. In last place with 0% was Ian Duncan Smith! Can't find the list unfortunately.

In reply to Jon Dittman:

I'll maybe give it the fax a try.

TN, out of interest, what party is your MP? I had a look at the EDM online a week or so back, and noticed that while it had LibDem, Tory and SNP support, not one Labour MP had put their name to it. Which made me wonder if there was a party line on this.

In reply to mav not logged in:

She's Labour, but I only got her reply this morning so she's probably done it since. (unless she's fibbing to me!)

In reply to TN:

That's good. That implies there's no official party line. Which means they may well be more flexible about changing the guidelines

In reply to TN: Mine wrote to me promising to support an EDM 4 weeks ago, her name still isn't on the register. No wonder she's MP for the seat with the poorest turn-out in the country!

In reply to mav not logged in:

I've just checked - although she hasn't signed this particular one yet, there's another one I wrote to her about has been signed, so I imagine she'll get there eventually...

In reply to TN:

I have just checked the edm website, and have found that no one from the labour party has signed.

My MP is labour and he said that he would sign it nearly two weeks ago!

I think that i will get the kids from work to write to him, that is if the HSE haven't changed their minds completely by then.