MLTUK and AALA have been consulting with HSE during the development of this draft and highlighting the inappropriateness of certain sections and regulations that would be applied to those instructing mountaineering, climbing and caving.

Lowering, abseiling and jumaring are all ‘positioning’ techniques and therefore need to meet all the requirements in the new regulations, and should therefore normally involve two ropes. Is one rope safer than two? HSE acknowledge the excellent safety record and good practice developed by the relevant mountaineering and caving bodies, and acknowledged that there are multiple arguments for continued use of a single rope: · No known rope breakages · The sporting context of our work and the need to train participants in that sport · Simplicity can often contribute to safety and complicating a process can create additional hazards · The need for speed in some mountaineering and caving contexts John Cousins (MLTUK) has called a meeting to co-ordinate the response from the outdoor community to the draft – 14 January 2004 at Plas y Brenin, North Wales. John asks that anyone with an opinion on this attend the meeting to make his or her views known, rather than contacting HSE direct – in this way a united front can be presented. For more information on the regulations or to join John’s email newsgroup for updates, contact john@mltuk.org or call 01690 720272.

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