The outdoor adventure sector have welcomed a decision in principle by Minister Jane Kennedy to allow for the development of sector specific Temporary Working at Heights Directive regulations in relation to activities such as climbing and caving.

Following a lengthy campaign over several years by a large number of individuals organisations and centres in the Adventure Activity Industry regarding the proposed Temporary Working at Height Regulations, common sense finally seems to have prevailed. The decision has been made to introduce separate regulations to implement the provisions of the Directive with respect to adventure activities such as climbing and caving. These regulations will only apply to the instruction and leadership of climbing and caving for sport and/or leisure.

 The BMC would like to thank all who contributed to this cause: three hundred and fifty two responses to the HSE’s consultation a year ago, one hundred parliamentary signatories to the Early Day Motion, innumerable media features, the support of forty major outdoor organisations and countless hours and days of work by Tom Redfern (BCA), Brian Lamb(IOL), Simon Waring (OB Trust), Charlotte Edward (CCPR), Doug Jones and John Cousins (MLTUK) have paid off. The following press release on the subject was prepared by Alistair Burt MP for North East Bedfordshire who has also been a fantastic supporter of our cause.

 PRESS RELEASE MARCH 15TH 2005 COMMON SENSE ABOVE AND BELOW OUTDOOR ADVENTURE SECTOR WELCOMES RESOLUTION OF WORKING AT HEIGHTS IMPASSE

Representatives of over forty organisations in the outdoor adventure sector have welcomed a decision in principle by Minister Jane Kennedy to allow for the development of sector specific Temporary Working at Heights Directive regulations in relation to specified adventure activities such as climbing and caving. The sector and MPs had lobbied the Minister following lengthy negotiations with the Health and Safety Executive, on the grounds that the Directive was not aimed at sporting activities, and that imposing it in its entirety could have severe and damaging effects on safety and businesses. Alistair Burt MP for North East Bedfordshire accompanied John Cousins and Doug Jones of Mountain Leader Training UK , Tom Redfern of the British Caving Association and Brian Lamb of the Institute of Outdoor Learning to a meeting with the Minister and Health and Safety Commission Chairman Bill Callaghan on March 8th.

Alistair Burt MP said “We are very pleased with the outcome. The sector always recognised the point of the Directive in relation to those whose work temporarily involved working above ground, as in scaffolding or construction, but felt very strongly that it was never intended for sport. This view is held throughout the EU, and was confirmed in a legal opinion prepared for the Minister last November, which offered the opportunity that we had been seeking of allowing National Governing Bodies in climbing and caving to remain the key guardians of safety, a responsibility they have exercised superbly over the years. This decision finally lays to rest the threat which had hung over the sector of inappropriate safety provisions applying to mountain training and mountain surfaces. It is a victory for common sense, and we are grateful to Jane Kennedy for her understanding of the situation” John Cousins, Executive Director of Mountain Leader Training UK said “we set out to ensure that adventure activity providers could continue their activities unhindered and believe that the proposal to except us from specific elements of the Regulations is an excellent outcome. We are grateful to everyone who has made their views known and for the support of the media and politicians, especially Alistair Burt and Jane Kennedy. We can return to the business of developing good practice and enjoying our sports.”

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