20.02.2006

More on the Red Diesel issue

February 20th, 2006.

Dear Editor,

Scott McCall’s letter about red diesel and vehicle mounted platforms is absolutely correct. If VMPs are prevented from using red diesel then other forms of temporary access will benefit and the HSE’s hard work on preventing falls from height will be seriously undermined.

IPAF has held meetings with Treasury officials and is lobbying both Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs and the Health & Safety Executive to ensure that this penny pinching measure is not implemented. A very small number of vehicles will be affected by the proposed change and evidence presented to HMRC suggests that less than £1 million of additional revenue will be raised. The unintended side effects of the move could, however, be grave with cranebaskets, fork lift trucks, temporary stages and other unsuitable equipment becoming much more cost effective than purpose designed, safe, powered access.

Vehicle mounted platforms use the highways to reach the job site and should be allowed to use red diesel.

Yours faithfully

Tim Whiteman
Managing Director
International Powered Access Federation

See A Red diesel letter