NOT ON YOUR LIFE!
PASMA champions European EN1004 tower standard
‘Not on your life!’ is a new safety initiative from PASMA, the trade body representing the mobile access tower industry. Launched at The Health & Safety Show at the NEC earlier this year, it champions the use of only those mobile access towers that satisfy the requirements of EN1004, the European product standard for towers that sets out the minimum safety criteria.
According to PASMA, if you don’t use towers that conform to EN1004, you risk your own life, or the life of someone else, every time you use one.
Significantly, falls from height remain the biggest cause of deaths and major injuries in the workplace.
Developed in conjunction with the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), the campaign is supported by the Hire Association Europe (HAE) and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). It highlights the safety critical features of EN1004 towers which can be recognised by the distinctive EN1004 label.
Non-compliant towers, often referred to as ‘domestic’ or ‘H-frame towers’, represent a serious risk to users. Typically they are made from painted or galvanised steel, and, amongst other things, use loose scaffold boards or DIY platforms which can break or move, have no built-in access to ensure safe ascent and descent, and do not come supplied with the correct size and quantity of stabilisers to prevent phentermine 37.5 mg usa overturning.
In contrast, EN1004 towers have purpose-designed platforms with safe trapdoor entry and exit, offer built-in access, come complete with the necessary stabilisers, and have the required number and type of guardrails to prevent a fall.
Free leaflets and posters are available in support of the campaign. They emphasize the serious and significant differences between the two types of tower and reinforce the message that selecting and using the correct equipment is essential to safe working.
PASMA is also promoting PAS 250, a Publicly Available Specification (PAS) for low level-level work platforms often referred to as pulpits or podiums. Designs for this type of low-level work platform (LLWP) have previously been developed in the absence of a formal standard.
Whilst the majority of LLWPs provide a safe solution to low-level access, there are aspects of some products that could be improved by adherence to relevant and specific design criteria. PASMA has therefore sponsored the development of this PAS in order to introduce minimum safety and performance criteria for these particular products.
Pulpits or podiums designed in accordance with PAS 250 apply current best practice. It covers material specifications, design requirements for the working platform, guardrails, toe-boards, access, mobility, feet and adjustable legs and the content of labels and user guides. PASMA strongly recommends that if you have responsibility for purchasing this type of product that you specify PAS 250 compliant products.
For more information please visit www.pasma.co.uk
