PASMA has released a free guide on the revised BS EN 1004 European product standards for tower scaffolds.

With changes to BS EN 1004 taking full effect later in 2021, PASMA is urging all businesses using mobile access towers to use the transition period wisely.

The not-for-profit body has released comprehensive guidance to help organisations understand the updates included in the new standard and most importantly, how it affects them. The free document is aimed at anyone who buys, hires, owns or uses mobile access towers, or is responsible for height safety in the workplace.

“The new standard brings a wider range of towers into scope, along with a raft of new measures to make them safer than ever, so it’s essential that safety-conscious organisations are up to speed,” PASMA said.

The revision of BS EN 1004 (now known as BS EN 1004 Part 1) took 10 years from start to finish, and PASMA participated extensively, with the support of its members, to help shape the updates. The association is now using its experience and inside knowledge to help the whole industry prepare.

Don Aers, Technical Director at PASMA, commented: “The old standard won’t be withdrawn until November, so you have time. The first step is to assess your current situation – does your purchasing policy include guidance on selecting quality equipment? If you own towers, are they certified to the right standard? Are they in good working condition? These are the things organisations should be focused on now and PASMA’s guidance talks them through this audit process, step by step.”

The guidance is available at https://pasma.co.uk/faqs/en-1004-revision/