Last month, RIDBA attended and presented at an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Working at Height meeting with a focus on working at height in rural environments.
Following the HSE Workplace Fatal Injuries Report earlier this year, agriculture was shown to be the second highest sector for workplace fatalities, following the construction industry, and many of these fatalities resulted from a fall from height. Presentations were delivered by the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), Unite the Union, and Mike Pryke (Industrial Building Solutions), who represented RIDBA at the meeting.
All expressed their desire for change in the industry with regards to training and ensuring only skilled contractors, like RIDBA members, carry out specialist works. The overall consensus was that attitudes to health and safety in the sector are likely to change with a new generation of workers coming through, who will be trained and educated to higher health and safety standards. Minutes from the meeting can be found here.