A recent safety awareness day has highlighted the importance of contractors regularly practising emergency rescue from mobile elevating work platforms, rather than relying on one-off training sessions and paper procedures that are not always easy to follow during a fast-moving incident.
By Ben Hughes, Horizon Platforms on 22 September 2026
Low-level access equipment like powered lifts can help make work at height safer by providing a secure, enclosed working platform, but they can also bring other benefits, such as avoiding the need for awkward stretching to reach work areas, which helps to prevent musculoskeletal injuries.
By Samuel Butterworth, JLG Power Towers on 22 September 2026
Over the years, the tower industry has made huge strides in improving safety. The introduction of design standards for equipment, structured training and clearer guidance have helped make towers a safe and widely used way to work at height. Yet some misconceptions still persist. They may seem harmless, but they can lead to poor decisions and unsafe practices if left unchallenged. Here, PASMA examines five common tower myths and explains the reality behind them.
By Don Aers, PASMA on 21 September 2026
People working at height may be tempted to take shortcuts that can put them in serious danger, so it’s essential to choose access equipment that makes it easier and quicker to complete the task safely, rather than relying on workers to follow instructions from one-off training sessions.
By Francis Camilleri, TB Davies on 21 September 2026
Electrocutions and electric shocks were the leading cause of reported fatal and major incidents involving powered access equipment worldwide in 2025, so it’s vital that those operating such equipment ensure they have suitable procedures, training and supervision in place to ensure safe work near overhead powerlines and other electrical infrastructure.
By Brian Parker, IPAF on 14 September 2026
Despite the UK having one of the best health and safety records in the world, falls from height remain the leading cause of workplace deaths in the nation. Although improvements in training, equipment and ongoing educational campaigns have helped to drive down the number of fall injuries in recent years, further work is required to ensure these efforts translate into continuous reductions in the accident rate.
By Orchie Bandyopadhyay on 08 September 2026
Two construction companies have been fined nearly £80,000 after a scaffolder broke his arm, leg and suffered head lacerations in a fall through a roof skylight.
By Belinda Liversedge on 11 June 2026
The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) has today launched its 2026 global safety campaign targeting MEWP inspections.
By Belinda Liversedge on 14 May 2026
A builder who threatened inspectors from HSE and told them his name was James Bond has been fined over £10,000 in fines and costs.
By Belinda Liversedge on 23 January 2026
Director of health and safety at the Canal & River Trust, Anne Gardner-Aston, shares what she’s most proud of achieving in the past four years since taking on a new role in the wake of a turbulent moment in the charity’s history.
By Belinda Liversedge on 02 January 2026
