MPA launches new working at height resources

New guides available on safe working at height for employers, employees, and contractors

IN the drive to deliver Vision Zero, the Mineral Products Association (MPA) Health & Safety Committee has identified working at height as one of ‘The Fatal 6’ 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, click here.

Falls from height continue to be the single biggest cause of workplace fatalities in the UK with Health and Safety Executive (HSE) statistics showing 35 deaths in 2021/22. Even when a fall is from a height of less than 2m, 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/or 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 employees 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.

A complementary Work at Height e-learning module has been developed by MPQC and is free to access here.

Tony Entwistle, the 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.’

These new resources, together with toolbox talks, videos, hot topics, and incident alerts shared by the membership for the benefit of our industry, are available here.

For more information, contact Tony Entwistle, MPA health and safety manager ([email protected]); or Colin Mew, MPA special advisor on health and safety ([email protected]).