Listeners to Britain’s oldest soap heard Pargetter fall to his death from the roof of Lower Loxley Hall. He had climbed up there to take down a banner after a New Year’s Eve party.
IPAF has issued this statement in response:
“While the audience and the fictional characters cope with the tragic loss of Nigel Pargetter, the powered access industry must be asking: Why didn’t Nigel use a mobile elevating work platform (MEWP)? 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. People – electricians, industrial cleaners, steel fixers, aerial installers, tree surgeons, painters and many other trades – too often underestimate the real dangers of any work at height. Falls from height continue to be the biggest killer in the industry.
“Nigel’s death and other similar accidents in the real world are tragic because they can be prevented through the use of the right equipment and with proper training. Powered access equipment, in the hands of a trained operator, offers a safe and effective way to work at height. Most areas in Britain are covered with easy local access to a wide range of MEWPs, and these are increasingly being used by those who recognise the combined safety benefits and productivity gains.
“IPAF calls on the producers of the show to visit www.ipaf.org to learn about safe work at height.”
Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk
