05 Dec Newsletter – Winter 2018
The MATS Group Winter newsletter is now available. Click here to download your copy....
31 Jul Newsletter – Summer 2018
The MATS Group Summer newsletter is now available. Click here to download your copy....
23 Jul 2019 Conference
Following the success of the inaugural 2017 MATS Conference and the 2018 follow up event, the MATS Group is now inviting interest from potential sponsors, speakers and exhibitors for our next event which will be held in the Midlands in April 2019. Speaker proposal forms and information on sponsor/exhibitor packages available by clicking the links below: Sponsorship and Exhibitors Packages Presenter Proposal Any queries please email enquiries@matsgroup.info...
18 Jun Call for Feedback
Call for feedback - DRAFT Guidance Note GN-018 - Risk Assessment and Method Statements The MATS Group have drafted a new Guidance Note GN-018 and would like to receive feedback on this draft approach to communicating uncertainty from industry experts and officials who are involved in Working at Height and RF issues. We will assess all comments from interested parties which are submitted and these will be taken into consideration if found to be relevant and appropriate to include in the final version of the document. Click here to download the draft GN-018 notes. Please forward any comments to enquiries@matsgroup.info before Friday 13th July 2018....
25 Apr MATS Conference 2018
The second annual Mast and Tower Safety Group (MATS) Conference was held at the Headingley Stadium, Leeds on the 11th April building after a good first innings at the 2017 inaugural event. The event was attended by over 140 telecoms/broadcast colleagues and supported by 14 exhibitors/suppliers showcasing a number of innovative products and services relating to work at height/rigging safety. The batting order was as follows: Mark Arthur, Chief Executive of Yorkshire County Cricket Club opened the conference and welcomed everyone to historic Headingley, a world class venue that is home to YCCC, Leeds Rhinos Rugby League side and Yorkshire Carnegie Rugby Union side. Alan Trueman (Arqiva) introduced himself as the new chair of MATS, having taken over from Tony Taylor (EE) at the beginning of the year. The membership, aims and objectives, and group strategy were outlined. Teresa Mullen (Founder & Director of Paradigm Human Performance Ltd) gave a presentation on "interrupting the launch sequence" to reduce the consequences of unwanted outcomes triggered by human errors. Slides are available here but for anyone requiring more narrative around them please contact Teresa Mullen on teresa@paradigmhp.com Tony Taylor (EE) gave an update on the MATS Group ownership of climbing and mast rescue training content....
09 Apr Newsletter – Spring 2018
Welcome The Mast and Tower Safety Group is an industry forum for owners and operators of masts and towers in the UK used for broadcast and telecommunications. The group’s main purpose is to provide Health and Safety /RF guidance to the industry. This newsletter is intended to provide an update on recently published guidance, current issues, and what’s on the horizon. MATS Annual Conference 2018 Following the success of the first MATS conference held at Network Rail last year, we will be hosting our second annual conference at Headingley Cricket and Rugby Ground on Wednesday 11th April 2018. The agenda for the day includes a look at Human Performance and the extent to which human error is causative in accidents; an update on the new MATS training standards which will replace the Arqiva review; an introduction to the Trailblazer rigging apprenticeship; a session on dropped object prevention by experts from the oil and gas industry and an insight from IPAF on use of MEWPs within the industry. The following exhibitors will be supporting the event and showing off their innovative products. All tickets have now been sold and we expect 170 delegates to the venue. MATS Guidance notes A number of guidance notes have been produced by the group...
26 Feb New Chairman
Tony Taylor (EE) has handed over the Chairmanship of the MATS Group to Alan Trueman (Arqiva). Alan will chair the group for the next two years until December 2019. Many thanks to Tony Taylor who has done a great job during his tenure as Chair and good luck to Alan in his new role....
06 Nov Newsletter – Winter 2017
Welcome The Mast and Tower Safety Group is an industry forum for owners and operators of masts and towers in the UK used for broadcast and telecommunications. The group’s main purpose is to provide Health and Safety /RF guidance to the industry. This newsletter is intended to provide an update on recently published guidance, current issues, and what’s on the horizon. And remember its only 50 days to Christmas! MATS Approved Basic Tower Climber and Rescue Course MATS will be introducing during 2018 this course to ensure a consistently high standard of training is being delivered across the industry. The final stage of consultation is taking place and once this has been carried out the course will be formally introduced via the training companies presently approved on the Arqiva database. Discussions are on-going with potential partners in respect of how the training centres and standard of delivery is audited and what the associated costs for registration maybe. MATS Annual Conference 2018 The first MATS annual conference was held at the Network Rail Conference Centre in Warwickshire and was a huge success. We have agreed to run a similar event and it will be probably held during April. Full details will be released very soon. We will be inviting a...
01 Nov National Register of RF Workers Annual Meeting on the 6th Dec 2017
The programme for the Register’s Annual Meeting has been finalised. The event has been running for over a decade and has seen a string of esteemed guest speakers and interesting presentations covering a variety of aspects relating to RF in the workplace. This year it is no different. The morning session focuses on training for work in an RF environment. Hugo Bibby, Link MicroTek, will talk to us about the “current standards and expectations of RF awareness training” and following this Robin Conway, ARCC communications, will tell us how “the proposed Government approved apprentice scheme for RF Riggers” is shaping up. In the afternoon we will be joined by Julian Kelsall-Joel, Qinetiq, who will speak about the unique “challenges (and solutions) of managing RF at Qinetiq” and finally Nigel Cridland, PHE, will provide us with “The latest from Public Health England” on dealing with RF in the working environment. It is again hosted at The University of Birmingham’s Medical School on the 6th of Dec 2017, beginning at 10.30 and finishing at 3.30. If you would like to attend or require further information please write to us at RFregister@bham.ac.uk or contact Ian Litchfield on 0121 414 6006. ...
14 Jul Summer 2017 Newsletter
Welcome The Mast and Tower Safety Group is an industry forum for owners and operators of masts and towers in the UK used for broadcast and telecommunications. The group’s main purpose is to provide Health and Safety /RF guidance to the industry. This newsletter is intended to provide an update on recently published guidance, current issues, and what’s on the horizon. Young Persons / Inexperienced Heights Workers A near fatality to a Young person who was working at height caused a real stir within the industry and has led to actions being taken that will improve the overall management of those workers most vulnerable and at risk when working at height. Many infrastructure owners are considering prohibiting ‘young persons’ from being allowed to work in an operational capacity on their structures outside of a planned apprenticeship scheme. Additionally, vulnerable or inexperienced workers (often between the ages of 18-21) will be required by many infrastructure owners to gain 3 months relative experience working alongside a team of at least 2 skilled and experienced team members before being able to be counted as part of the normal operational team. Competency Log Book Sometimes the old ways are the best ways! More and more questions are being raised regarding how site...