We have all been deeply traumatised by the ‘death’ Nigel Pargetter, owner of the Lower Loxley estate in the long-running BBC Radio series The Archers. Nigel fell from the roof of Lower Loxley Hall, a historical home dating from 1702, when he climbed up there to take down a banner after the New Year’s party.
The powered access industry want an enquiry : Why didn’t Nigel use a mobile elevating work platform ? Why did he simply climb up the roof, apparently in dark and windy conditions, and with no fall protection? Did he not do a risk assessment before taking on this task?
This tragedy for one of Britain’s best-known soap opera families raises serious questions for safe work at height. In reality people too often underestimate the real dangers of any work at height. Falls from height continue to be the biggest killer in industry.
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IPAF is a not-for-profit members’ organisation that promotes the safe and effective use of powered access equipment worldwide.