The international headquarters of the world’s largest specialist powered access rental business, Lavendon Group plc, has hosted a key British Sign and Graphics Association (BSGA) meeting on Health and Safety in the industry.

The BSGA’s Technical Committee, whose work includes technical aspects and wider safety issues surrounding signage, were invited to use the facilities to coincide with a final training article from Lavendon Group’s UK business, Nationwide Platforms, to appear in the BSGA newsletter.

With a huge proportion of signage installation taking place at height, over the past two years the BSGA has been taking extra steps to promote safety courses to its membership.

Earlier in the year BSGA Director David Catanach completed his IPAF 3a/3b training, which teaches the safe use of scissor lifts and boom lifts, at Nationwide Platforms’ Leeds depot.

Speaking after November’s meeting, David said: “The benefits of businesses providing proper training for their employees far outweighs any initial costs. That’s a message we are very eager to continue to push.

“It’s important that the signage industry recognises the huge benefits of workplace training. Not only do these courses allow workers to complete tasks more safely, but qualifications such as those from IPAF are becoming increasingly mandatory, so having this training is essential for maximising the work you can take on as an organisation and shows the customer that the sign company has the competencies to carry out the work required.”

Proud to promote safe working at height

John Tominay, Nationwide Platforms’ Key Account Manager (Signage), said: “As a business we’re proud to promote safe working at height wherever we can. By welcoming David and his colleagues from the BSGA we can begin to help an entire industry recognise how crucial it is to get the right training, whether that be IPAF, PASMA or another kind of safety training.”  

The BSGA exists to lobby on behalf of the industry in general with such things as apprenticeship schemes, planning laws and education matters to make a strong, qualified and competent industry.

They are also very vocal in support of the dark skies initiative which aims to reduce the amount of light clutter in the night sky and finding ways to reduce the environmental impact of light pollution.

Nationwide Platforms’ Key Account Manager John Tominay and External Training Manager Charlie Ellis (left) and David Catanach (centre) with the BSGA Council.

Last month’s meeting also saw the BSGA’S Council meet for the discussion for wider issues and developments for the signage industry. Both committees are entirely voluntary.

Next year’s BSGA member newsletters will include input from Nationwide Platforms highlighting the types of access equipment ideal for the signage industry.

Nationwide Platforms are Europe’s largest provider of IPAF training, providing more working at height courses throughout the UK on a daily basis than any other training provider.