HSE Press Office: Putting the record straight

Mr Guy Proctor
Editor, Trail
Emap Active Ltd,
Bretton Court
Bretton
Peterborough PE3 8DZ

19 March 2004

Sir,

The April Edition of 'Trail' carried a feature 'Spot the difference?'

Mountain leaders, the outdoor education sector and your readers would have been alarmed, as I was, by your account of the proposals for the new Work at Height Regulations. Here are the facts.

• The draft proposals do NOT propose a ban on instructors/guides working alone or single rope working or working on fragile surfaces or work in poor weather conditions;
• The Regulations, like the Directive, apply only to the outdoor sector workforce, not those who walk or climb for sport or leisure;
• Outdoor sector workers can not be excluded either from the Directive or Regulations and I am not aware that any European Member state has done so; and
• We take consultation very seriously and have listened and will continue to listen to concerns. No final decisions have been made on the consultation.

Successful regulation is only achieved through partnership. HSE has recently committed £20k of its research money into working with the sector to demonstrate how existing best practice already meets these regulations.

The outdoor sector is exemplary in its standards and best practice and has an excellent safety record. If these are followed then those working in outdoor activities should have nothing to fear from the new Regulations.

Yours sincerely

BILL CALLAGHAN

Chair, Health and Safety Commission