If you are involved in any industry that requires your staff to be working at height, then ensuring they are competent and trained to undertake the work required of them is vital. Being qualified and capable of embarking on such jobs is so crucial because of the stakes that are at risk should an accident occur – including their lives and your business reputation.
If your company is based in the North East of England (around the Newcastle and Tyne and Wear areas), then knowing you have direct access to IPAF training, PASMA training and Harness training via North East Access Training is a great way for you to stay on top of your training and working at height qualification needs.
Safety First
There are a few myths surrounding what quantifies as ‘working at height’, the equipment used in such jobs and what you need the qualifications for. We’d like to set the record straight on these issues.
- You do not need to be qualified to use a ladder or step ladder at ground level. You do, however, need to be competent and able to carry out tasks safely with the use of all your limbs. Use of a ladder at height will require a worker to be trained and qualified for the task.
- Using a fixed staircase in a building, and working above ground level within a building does not count as working at height. Working at height can be anywhere that a person could fall from and cause injury to themselves and others.
Avoid Hefty Fines
There have been stories in the news regularly about companies being fined for injuries that have occurred on their site due to breaches in Working at Height Regulations.
For instance, in January alone, a number of businesses were fined almost a quarter of a million pounds in combined total because of workers being seriously injured while working at height.
While accidents happen and human error does occur, it can be devastating; not only for the injured parties but also for you and your business. Can you afford to pay a hefty fine? Is it worth losing business in the long term over the short term expense of having your staff fully qualified?
The Logical Solution
If you answered no to the above questions, then the only logical solution is to ensure all staff working for you are fully trained and qualified for their role. All of our IPAF and PASMA training courses in the Newcastle and Tyne and Wear area are available for you to book now.
We have a number of dates available for you to choose from, all of our training courses are fully accredited, and successful candidates will receive a PAL training card.
For further information on any of our available courses, please contact us today.