06 Nov

Posted at 12:28h in News by
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  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...

14 Jul

Posted at 08:29h in News by
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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...

21 Apr

Posted at 13:44h in News by
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The inaugural MATS Group Conference was held at Westwood, Coventry on Thursday 6th April and included exhibitors Link Microtek, Xcell Aerial Surveys, Harken, Spanset, Skylotec, Total Access and Heightec. Over 100 delegates heard presentations from speakers representing the MATS Group, Health & Safety Executive, Ensuring organisations learn an Accident at Height, RF Register updates and practical steps to compliance and control of EMF at Work Regulations. We have received excellent feedback which will help the group prepare for future events. Special thanks to the MATS steering group, Network Rail, and speakers David Lefever, Jason Varley , Alan Woodhead, Blayne Jackson , Hugo Bibby and Julia Clark         ...

05 Jul

Posted at 12:51h in News by
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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. This newsletter is intended to provide an update on recently published guidance, current issues, and what’s on the horizon.   EU EMF Directive now UK Law   The MATS Group responded to the HSE consultation on the UK guidance and regulations to implement the EU EMF Directive on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from electromagnetic fields. On 01 July 2016 the Control of Electromagnetic Fields at Work (CEMFAW) Regulations came into force in the UK. The new regulations apply to occupational exposure only.  Most companies already work to the ICNIRP guidelines so this is not a major change for the industry.  A few points that are worth noting are: 1. The terminology has changed.  Reference levels are now called actions level and the Basic Restriction levels are now called exposure limit values. 2. Have you made your employees aware that they need to tell you if they are classified as a worker at particular risk? e.g. have an implant such as a pace maker or are pregnant.  If so you will need...

01 Oct

Posted at 09:13h in News by
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MATS Group – What’s it all about?   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. Our aim is to create industry-specific guidance aimed at operators, contractors and suppliers who work in the industry. Our main focus is on safe working at height on rooftops and structures and radio-frequency safety. Guidance on associated activities such as construction is also included. We are not recreating or rewriting requirements already within legislation; we are ensuring that there is a common approach across all infrastructure owners in the UK.   CDM Regulations – are you up to speed?   We have all been trying to understand the best ways for our organisations to implement CDM 2015 over the last few months. Without an ACOP and with much of the guidance written around traditional large single construction sites it has not been easy. The MATS Group has focused on issues specific to our industry in relation to construction work on masts and towers. A new guidance note, GN-003, is now available on the MATS Group website. Issues on which we have provided guidance include:   What activities do we consider should be classified as construction Who is best placed to...