26.09.2019

Nationwide Working At Height Forum 2019

UK rental company Nationwide Platforms held its Working At Height Best Practice Safety Forum last week at Heythrop Park, Oxfordshire.

Around 400 people attended the event, now in its 11th year. There was a range of equipment from around 35 companies in the access industry, including the 90 metre Bronto Skylift truck mounted platform.
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The event took place at Heythrop Park in Oxfordshire

Nationwide managing director Colin Hotchkiss opened the forum, with the morning including presentations from Mike Robertson, head of health and safety at NNB - Hinkley Point C, Graham Edgell, director of sustainability and procurement at Morgan Sindall Group and Martin Coyd OBE, head of health, safety and wellbeing at Mace Construction. Topics included working at height risk management, the need to futureproof for sustainable fleets, and mental health in the industry.

After lunch, there were a number of breakout sessions including Manufacturers Showcase, an outdoor access exhibit focusing heavily on electric and hybrid equipment, the work of the IPAF Technical Committee, a customer risk workshop, 5G working at height challenges and a talk on sustainable fleet selection.

The late afternoon sessions were dampened by the tragic news of what proved to be a fatal incident with one of the company’s truck mounted lifts. The evening event was dinner and entertainment including after dinner speaker Warwick Davis, but given the circumstances of the events at Redcar, it was cancelled.

Due to the evening event being cancelled, a JustGiving page has been set up to help raise money for Mind, who Nationwide was trying to raise money for that night, so please donate whatever you can. Nationwide Platforms has also pledged to match the funds raised.
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Panel discussion and taking questions from the audience

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Mike Robertson and Duncan Emms of NNB (both on right)

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Graham Edgell of Morgan Sindall Group

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Martin Coyd OBE of Mace Construction

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Power Towers showed its new Power Tower Duo with a working height of 5.1 metres

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Ged Kelly of Haulotte explaining secondary guarding feature on Haulotte machines

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Chris Wrenn of Versalift showing the Telecoms breakout group the Versalift all electric Renault Master van mounted platform