Health And Safety Minister Lord Hunt goes caving

E088:06 30 August 2006

Lord Hunt, Minister for Health and Safety, visited Trewern Adventure Activity Centre near Hay-on-Wye and went caving with the centre's leader, Juliet Parker-Smith on Wednesday, 23 August 2006.

After the visit Lord Hunt said:

"I have taken a close personal interest in the adventure activity sector in trying to understand their concerns about the Work at Height Regulations. Out of that has come this terrific opportunity to see caving at first hand. I am very grateful to Juliet and her team for this opportunity and very much enjoyed getting a better understanding of how risks are managed in such a challenging environment.

Lord Hunt continued:

"On 22nd August the Health and Safety Commission launched its principles of risk assessment - setting out clearly and simply what risk management is and is not about. I'm sure they will be of great help to people organising and taking part in outdoor activities like caving or climbing. We all know that adventure comes with risks - you can't have endeavour without it. And we equally know that we can't take away all the risks that arise from activities like climbing or caving - but we can manage them. These activities have strong educational value and, provided they are well planned and properly and safely managed, we should be encouraging our children to take part and enjoy the experience they offer.'

Juliet Parker-Smith added:

"I am delighted that Lord Hunt could take the time to see for himself at first hand the way professional adventure activity providers manage risks."

Photographs of Lord Hunt's visit are available at:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/images/lhcave1.jpg [Lord Hunt and PS Maxine Thompson]
http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/images/lhcave2.jpg [Lord Hunt, Juliet Parker-Smith, Maxine Thompson]
http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/images/lhcave3.jpg [Lord Hunt, Maxine Thompson]

Notes to editors

1. The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) is responsible for health and safety regulation in Great Britain. The Health and Safety Executive and local government are the enforcing authorities who work in support of the Commission. The HSC is sponsored by the Department of Work and Pensions and is ultimately accountable to Lord Hunt of Kings Heath OBE as Parliamentary Under Secretary (for Work and Pensions) (Lords). Lord Hunt's biographical details are at: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/aboutus/ministers/hunt.asp
2. HSC announced its consultation on the amendment to the Work at Height Regulations 2005 on 1 August. The proposed amendment will bring into the scope of the Regulations those who are paid to lead or train climbing or caving activities in the adventure activity sector, i.e. those who work in the sector. The amendment does not affect sport or leisure climbing or caving. Consultation closes on 31 October 2006. For further information see http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls/activity.htm. The Consultation Document is at: http://consultations.hse.gov.uk/inovem/consult.ti/wah.adventure/consultationHome
3. On 22 August HSE launched its 'Principles of Risk Assessment' in London. The launch starts a campaign to raise awareness of what risk management should and should not be about. The Principles comprise as set of practical actions to help steer decision making, and follow on from the recent revision of HSE's popular leaflet '5 Steps to Risk Assessment'. Both documents can be found at http://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/fivesteps.htm and http://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/principles.htm
4. Trewern Outdoor Education Centre is situated near Hay-on-Wye, Herefordshire. It is sponsored by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and managed by Juliet Parker-Smith. The centre offers a wide range of outdoor courses and training for young people and adults. Full details can be found at http://www.trewern.org/Trewern_website/Welcome.html

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