HSE Press Office: Putting the record straight

The Editor
Sunday Telegraph 14 April 2004

Christopher Booker's piece 'Climbers to be shielded from perils of heights' is a lopsided and unfair criticism of the consultation and proposals for the new Work at Height Regulations. Had he observed normal journalistic courtesies of seeking to balance his reporting he could have had the following facts:

• The draft proposals do NOT insist on double rope working or propose a ban on single rope working. They do not ban working on fragile surfaces or work in poor weather conditions, neither do they require signs on mountains. From talking to the sector we know there are specific issues like fragile surfaces in the natural environment that need to be addressed and we are already committed to looking again at the draft proposals.
  
  
• The Regulations, like the Directive, apply to all workers (not workplaces) as you inaccurately report.
  
  
• How other member states implement the Directive is for them but we have no evidence to suggest that working guides etc are being excluded in the rest of Europe; and
  
  
• We take consultation very seriously. Staff moves in no way undermine the fact that we have listened and will continue to listen to the concerns of this sector. Mr Booker may be unaware of the successful meeting between HSE and the Outdoor Adventure Activity Industry on 31 March at which most of these issues were resolved. A copy of the joint statement and position paper are on our website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls/regulations.htm

Clearly the moral of the tale is why let the facts get in the way of good 'knocking job'.

Yours faithfully

TIMOTHY WALKER
Director General