Brexit Working Group To Help Industry Get Ready

FASET (Fall Arrest Safety Equipment Training) roof harness

As the construction industry’s not-for-profit organisation that provides quality guidance and training amongst workers, FASET – Fall Arrest Safety Equipment Training – exists to promote safety. This requires staying abreast of the latest developments in the industry.

Without doubt, the two biggest developments during the last year affecting not only construction but almost all other industries in the UK are COVID-19 and Brexit. The former has brought a new wave of new challenges as well as opportunities. The evolution of the office as we know it is just one talking point high on the agenda of many organisations. Now that infection rates are thankfully on the decline and lockdown measures continue to be eased, Brexit is coming to the fore once more.

FASET has observed with interest that the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has constituted a dedicated Brexit Working Group, in advance of the expiration of the transition period with the European Union at the end of the year. The Working Group aims to produce and signpost business guidance and information to help the construction industry get ready and be prepared to maintain business continuity at the end of the transition period. The Group will also aim to identify critical issues facing the construction industry (in the event of no agreement) that the Government should address in advance of the expiry of the transition period as well as championing opportunities for the construction sector in the numerous ongoing trade deal negotiations (EU+ROW).

The work of the group will be split into four workstreams covering:

  • Movement of People: preparing for the new immigration rules, accessing alternative labour supply and reciprocal arrangements on skills and qualifications in new trade deals.
  • Movement of Goods and Materials: preparing for the new customs regime, guidance on WTO rules in the event of no agreement with the EU and alternative sourcing opportunities in the rest of the world and the domestic market.
  • Standards and Alignment: guidance on the Construction Products Regulation, EU notified bodies, CE marking, UK designated standards, UKCA marking and the longer term prospects of (de)harmonisation and (de)alignment.
  • Data Adequacy: business awareness of the potential impact and mitigating actions on data flow in the event of no agreement with the EU and no decision by the European Commission on the UK’s ‘data adequacy’.

Tony Seddon, Managing Director of FASET, commented:

“At FASET we have been monitoring the Brexit process closely as there are many potential consequences for the construction industry in general and for the fall arrest sector in particular.

“One unknown and therefore concerning issue is what happens to EU health and safety regulations once the UK has left Europe? Just one example is the two-metre limit on lanyards in work restraint systems. While it’s unlikely these will simply be abandoned, there may be a question mark over some organisations’ commitment to maintaining the highest standards of safety. That’s where we come in.

“FASET exists to promote safety in work at height. We won’t waver in our aim to ensure that the construction workforce receives the latest training and guidance to ensure safety on site. Our ultimate goal is to eliminate fall from height.”

Brexit Working Group To Help Industry Get Ready