Mark Davison from PTSG’s Access Maintenance Division, was a keynote industry speaker at the first virtual meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group’s (APPG) for Working at Height, which took place on 3rd June 2020.
The virtual meeting addressed COVID-19 and the implications for working at height. 34 people attended from across Parliament and industry. Vice Chair of the APPG for Working at Height, Chris Stephens MP, opened the meeting and introduced the three industry speakers:
Mark Keily, Health, Safety & Environmental Director, Loxam PAD & Nationwide Platforms;
Mark Davison (PTSG), Chair at Specialist Access Engineering and Maintenance Association; and
Jonathan Capper, Chair, IRATA and Managing Director of Lyon Equipment
Mark said that social distancing is achievable for engineers who spend time in small teams outdoors but noted that where it isn’t possible safe systems of work should be introduced in line with government guidance. He warned that there must not be a reduction in safety standards in the rush to restart working.
In a question and answer session which followed, Mark discussed the additional measures that organisations can take to keep their people, supply chain partners and the public safe with an emphasis on making sure that everyone arrives home safely every day. He reiterated PTSG’s policy that if a task or activity can’t be undertaken safely, it must not be undertaken at all.
Notable attendees of the meeting included:
Lord McKenzie, Former Minister at the Department for Work and Pensions with responsibility for health and safety at work and HSE
Baroness Jolly, Lib Dem Spokesperson for Health
Office of Stephen Timms MP, Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee
Office of Seema Malhotra MP, Shadow Minister for Employment with responsibility for health and safety at HSE within Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Team
Dave Joyce, National Health, Safety and Environment Officer at CWU
Charles Pitt, Head of Policy and Influencing at the British Safety Council.
