§ Mr. BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action has been taken or is envisaged by the Health and Safety Executive to restrict or prohibit the use of modular system cradles coupled by drop pins on construction sites.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe Health and Safety Executive has alerted users of any suspended access equipment on which drop nose pins link together sections of cradles, to the need for thorough examination and maintenance before such equipment is used.
The Health and Safety Executive has also met representatives of the Suspended Access Equipment Manufacturers Association and the National Association of Scaffolding Contractors. It was agreed that such cradles should be designed so that failure of a key component should not lead to total failure of the whole suspended access platform and that the training and competence of those who install and use them is important. The Health and Safety Executive has successfully advocated that these points be incorporated into the relevant British Standard codes of practice and is updating its own guidance on precautions essential for the safe use of suspended access equipment.