Every year, working at height remains one of the leading causes of injury in UK construction. Despite stricter regulations and improved equipment, accidents involving mobile towers, scaffolds and elevated platforms continue to occur – often because of one missing factor: proper training.
That’s where PASMA (Prefabricated Access Suppliers’ and Manufacturers’ Association) training plays a critical role.
What Is PASMA Training?
PASMA sets the industry standard for mobile access tower safety. A certified PASMA course teaches workers how to safely assemble, inspect, use and dismantle mobile towers – preventing the kind of errors that can lead to serious incidents.
Delivered across the UK, PASMA training from Harris Safety Training Services covers essential topics such as:
- Understanding tower components and load limits
- Correct assembly procedures using manufacturer guidance
- Safe practices during use, including fall prevention
- Inspection requirements and pre-use checks
- Avoiding common hazards on uneven or obstructed sites
The training combines classroom learning with hands-on practice, ensuring participants don’t just memorise theory – they apply it in real site conditions.
Why It Matters for Contractors and Employers
Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, employers have a legal duty to ensure that any person working at height is competent and properly trained. For principal contractors and site managers, providing PASMA training isn’t just best practice – it’s an essential compliance measure.
Failing to demonstrate adequate competence can lead to enforcement notices or prosecution in the event of an incident. Beyond regulation, the benefits are clear: fewer accidents, more confident teams, and reduced downtime caused by unsafe tower use.
The Hidden Costs of Skipping Training
On tight construction deadlines, training can be seen as a time loss. But the reality is that untrained staff pose a far greater cost risk. Incorrectly built or misused towers can collapse, damage materials, or cause injury – all of which halt productivity and drive insurance costs up.
Investing in one day of PASMA instruction can prevent weeks of project disruption.
Keeping Up With Modern Equipment
Construction sites are evolving, and so is access equipment. Modern towers are lighter, modular, and easier to move – but also more complex in design. That means older knowledge or informal instruction isn’t enough.
PASMA training ensures workers stay up to date with the latest standards, tower designs, and safe-use practices – maintaining alignment with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recommendations.
A Culture of Safety Starts With Education
Creating a strong safety culture isn’t just about policies – it’s about knowledge. Workers who understand the “why” behind regulations are more likely to apply them consistently.
Training through experienced providers like Harris Safety Training Services helps embed that awareness from day one, ensuring each site worker knows how to protect themselves and their team.
Final Word
Falls from height remain one of the construction industry’s most preventable hazards. PASMA training provides a simple and effective way to reduce risk, offering the confidence and competence every worker needs when operating at height.