Positive developments on 'Working at Heights'

Following a meeting earlier in the summer, Jane Kennedy, (Minister for Work & Pensions) has written to everyone who attended the meeting.
I am keen to find a solution that is acceptable to all and one that works. That is one that continues to ensure that the risks to workers in the sector and members of the public are properly controlled. This has raised some complex legal issues and work is ongoing....I will want to have advice from the HSC before I take a decision.
She went on to assure us that she intended to leave no stone unturned in investigating the possibilities for an exemption for the outdoor industry.

John Cousins from the MLTUK concludes
Whatever the outcome is I believe adventure activities can feel very proud of its ability to present an argument to government and muster the kind of support that ensures we cannot be ignored. At this stage I am confident that we will achieve our basic goal of ensuring that the regulations do not affect our industry. Thanks, once again to everyone who has worked locally or nationally to make this possible.

This effort includes all the people who supported the campaign via the threads and discussions on the UKC Forums.

This post has been read 2,014 times

Return to Latest News

UKH Advertising

Comments

Wibble Wibble

24 Aug, 2004

The tories/eurosceptics have waved this one as an illustration [of the myth?] of crazy EU legislation, so I assume the Goverment will want to get sensible about it.

Simon Caldwell

24 Aug, 2004

Have they? I've heard them wave it as an illustration of the continued insistence of British bureaucrats to follow the strict letter of everything coming out of the EU, and interpret everything as restrictively as possible. In contrast with the rest of Europe who follow the spirit of the rules (or just ignore them). The EU do a load of stupid things, but this one's down to us. And I'm afraid I don't read anything good in Ms Kennedy's statement, it sounds like a prelude to a trivial "it's the best we can do" concession. But I hope I'm just being unduly cynical as usual.

Wibble Wibble

24 Aug, 2004

Good point. It was mentioned on the Today program a couple of days ago.

neilh

24 Aug, 2004

I hate to be cynical, there have been plenty of other cases of so called powerful lobby groups failing to get their view across. The HS Executive will just say "but Minister we have to enforce the rules just imagine the consequences if there is an accident.

Ridge

24 Aug, 2004

The problem is that climbers, like motorcyclists for example, are a high-profile 'soft target' for restrictive legislation. The general public have little sympathy for, or understanding of our sport. Every time a walker gets winched off Ben Nevis the papers will be full of criticism, and people with no knowledge will be bleating about 'taxpayer's money funding Mountain Rescue'. So far so good as regards this directive, but it will only take one politician, from any party, to start a moral crusade against 'dangerous climbers putting themselves and others at risk' for this legislation to gather impetus again.

More Comments

Add Comment