News and Updates

A dozen hardy hikers from Arco have completed a 25km trek through the Peak District to raise funds for the UK's leading mental health charity.

Six members of the Hull-based safety company's executive team, along with six internal sales managers, took part in the Peak District Ultra Challenge on Saturday, in support of the Mental Health Foundation.

The two teams set off from Bakewell basecamp and walked a 25km loop, taking in some of Derbyshire's stunning scenery and sights, including Chatsworth House.

With "true team spirit" on show, the exec team completed the challenge in just over five hours, with the sales team finishing in six hours and 20 minutes.

Jimmy Wright, internal regional sales manager at Arco, said:

"We came into the challenge not knowing what to expect. This was a test that was both physically and mentally challenging.

"We went through the mill, but it didn't dampen our spirits. We had some music playing and were singing and dancing right until the end.

"I'm so proud of the team, I can't really put it into words. I would like to say a huge thank-you to everyone who has donated and sent messages of support to us; it definitely helped us get through this challenge."

In total, the teams have so far raised more than £8,400 from the Peak District challenge. Anyone who wants to donate can do so via the links below:

• Exec team (JustGiving)
• Internal sales (JustGiving)

Di Hopper, chief people officer at Arco, said:

"It was amazing to be out walking for such a well-known and important charity as the Mental Health Foundation.

"We filled the five hours with some great team-building chats, plenty of banter and lots of fun. It was worth the physical pain we all felt for the following 48 hours!

"We talked about how, by getting out and working on our physical fitness, while embracing the countryside, the fresh air and the atmosphere of the event, we really felt we were contributing to our own mental wellbeing, while raising money to help others with theirs.

"But the most rewarding part was knowing how much money we had raised and how many individuals we can reach indirectly, helping them get support when they need it."

As part of its partnership with the Mental Health Foundation, Arco is also donating 10% of profits from sales of its own brand hard hats to the charity.

The charity partnership is part of Arco's commitment to creating social value in communities across the UK and overseas.

Find out more about Arco's corporate social responsibility initiatives.

With the eyes of the world on Wimbledon, the experts at Arco Professional Safety Services have been working to ensure the safety of people working behind the scenes.

Arco has been providing fall protection services and working at height training for the Championships since 2019, helping to ensure the safety of maintenance and cleaning staff, camera and lighting crews, and others working in areas where there is a risk of falling.

For the past five years, Arco's team of working at height specialists have been instrumental in installing and annually testing and recertifying vital fall protection systems at the world-famous All England Club, including on Centre Court and Courts 1 and 2.

In preparation for this year's tournament, Arco has meticulously inspected around a dozen different fall protection assets, including RoofSafe and 3M horizontal lifeline systems, Soll Pivitloc ladder systems, fall arrest anchor points, fixed ladders, and self-retracting lifeline fall arrest blocks.

Arco's highly skilled trainers have also provided training in rooftop safety and rescue from height, allowing the Wimbledon team to safely access the court roofs to maintain lighting banners and other equipment. Workers have to be retrained in rescue from height every year and rooftop safety every three years.

Matthew Glass, fall protection manager at Arco Professional Safety Services, said:

"By testing and certifying the fall protection systems and providing essential work at height training, Arco plays an important role in the smooth and safe operation of the Wimbledon championships.

"With our support, the Wimbledon team can focus on delivering a world-class sporting event, knowing that Arco, the Experts in Safety, are helping them meet the highest safety standards."

Arco Professional Safety Services provide consultancy, training, services and equipment to manage the most complex and high-risk, hazardous scenarios

Find out more at arcoservices.co.uk

Working at height specialists from Arco Professional Safety Services have installed vital safety systems on a thrilling new rollercoaster at the LEGOLAND Windsor Resort.

The £10m Minifigure Speedway is the UK's first LEGO duelling rollercoaster, featuring cars that race to the end of a dynamic dual track before racing in reverse back to the start, reaching speeds of up to 35mph.

Arco worked with park operator Merlin Entertainments and ride manufacturer Zierer on the design, fabrication and installation of horizontal and inclined cable systems designed to provide reliable fall protection for LEGOLAND maintenance staff.

The fall protection solutions allow workers to safely conduct daily inspections, carry out essential repairs, and manage reactive tasks, including the safe evacuation of guests if necessary.

Matthew Glass, fall protection manager at Arco Professional Safety Services, said:

"We are proud to bring our working at height expertise to another exciting new rollercoaster, continuing our long-standing partnership with Merlin Entertainments.

"We are proud to have played a role in bringing this new experience to life for Legoland Windsor Resort, helping to ensure the ride is not only exciting but also meets the highest standards of safety.

"The fall protection systems will ensure workers can carry out their duties with confidence, knowing they are secured by a system that allows them to move freely and safely when working at height."

The inclined cable systems installed by Arco, supplied by MSA Latchways, are specifically designed to provide reliable fall protection for people working on sloped structures, including rollercoasters. In the event of a slip or fall, the BridgeLatch guided-type fall arresters lock on immediately, preventing a potential accident.

Stephen Cassidy, health, safety & security director at LEGOLAND Windsor, said:

"We have worked with Arco professional specialists on many projects at LEGOLAND Windsor as the safety of our workforce is paramount.

"Arco have provided robust ergonomic solutions for performing planned and reactive working at height maintenance operations and we continue to work with Arco for best practice guidance and for the maintenance and inspection of our fall prevention and arrest systems".

Falls from height are the most common cause of fatality and serious injury in the workplace, so fall protection is vitally important.

Arco Professional Safety Services' fall protection solutions help ensure the safety of workers and prevent accidents when working at height.

Find out more about Arco's fall protection solutions

Arco, the UK and Ireland's leading provider of safety products and services, has signed up to a new charter calling for inclusivity in workplace PPE.

The Protection for Everyone Charter, launched yesterday by health and safety news publisher SHP, calls for well-fitting personal protective equipment (PPE) to be seen not just as best practice, but as the minimum standard for all.

Arco is one of the first organisations to sign up and support the charter, along with UK industry names such as National Highways, IOSH, Vodafone and Heathrow Airport.

Those who sign the charter are signing up to the following commitments:

• To uphold the value that all workers deserve access to well-fitting PPE to work comfortably, with the understanding that standard sizing of PPE is not a one-size fits all.
• To proactively source suitable and correctly fitting PPE to meet the individual needs of any employees who require it, with the understanding that PPE may need to be sourced from more than one supplier.
• To work with any individual employee that has concerns or issues with the PPE provided to allow us to provide a suitable and well-fitting alternative To provide inclusive PPE for all as part of our dedication to the health, safety and overall wellbeing of our employees.
• To lead by example and share best practice with our contractors and suppliers.

Despite improved availability of PPE designed for women in recent years, research carried out last year by the National Association of Women in Construction (Yorkshire) found that 59.6% of women surveyed were still not being provided with it.

Arco has previously pledged its support for SHP's Protection for Everyone campaign, which aims to shed light on the importance of well-fitting PPE and advocate for meaningful change on a governmental level.

Guy Bruce, chief executive of Arco, said:

"At Arco, we understand that PPE is not 'one-size fits all', and we firmly believe everyone should have access to the right PPE to ensure they can work comfortably and safely.

"As the UK and Ireland's Experts in Safety, our core purpose is to keep people safe at work, and this means all people.

"We fully support SHP's Protection for Everyone campaign and are proud to be among the first to the sign the charter. We encourage our partners and customers to do the same, and help to ensure safety really is for everyone."

Katy Robinson, PPE campaigner and co-chair of the National Association of Women in Construction Yorkshire, said:

"It's fantastic that there are so many companies that have already pledged their support by signing this charter.

"It is a huge step forward in ensuring that all workers are provided with PPE that fits, to make the industry not only a safer place, but a more inclusive place, too."

Find out more about the Protection for Everyone charter and campaign

See Arco's range of women's PPE and workwear

Arco has secured a place on two valuable frameworks to provide PPE, workwear and other supplies to public sector organisations in the UK and Ireland.

The UK and Ireland's leading safety supplier has been selected as an approved supplier as part of the "Framework Agreement for Supply of Healthcare PPE" for the Health Service Executive (HSE), Ireland's public healthcare system.

Under the framework, which is worth a potential €15m over the next three years, Arco can supply hand sanitiser, nitrile gloves, eye protection, body protection and masks to the HSE.

Separately, Arco has also been chosen as an approved supplier for the "PPE, Workwear, Janitorial and Site Equipment Supplies Framework" by EEM, a non-profit organisation that provides simpler procurement processes for the public sector in England and Wales.

EEM's membership consists of 360 public sector and third sector organisations, including housing associations, local authorities, education providers, NHS trusts, emergency services, charities and government agencies.

The EEM framework agreement, which lasts for two years, is divided into four "lots", with Arco successful bidding to join three of those lots: PPE, workwear and janitorial.

The range of products that Arco can supply through the framework include:

PPE: Breathing apparatus, eye and face protection; fall management; head protection; hearing protection; respiratory protection; hand protection; safety footwear; body protection; first aid

Workwear: Trousers; polo shirts sweatshirts; t-shirts; fleeces; thermal wear; jackets; hi-visibility clothing; weather wear.

Janitorial: Janitorial supplies; washroom hygiene

Simon Allan-Brooks, Arco's chief commercial officer, said:

"Arco has decades of experience working with public sector organisations and we look forward to helping the members of these frameworks keep their people safe over the coming years.

"This is the first time Arco has secured a place on the HSE framework, and we are very excited about the opportunities this will open up for us in Ireland.

"This further demonstrates our unrivalled status as Experts in Safety and a trusted and responsible choice of safety partner to businesses and organisations across the UK and Ireland."

What is a framework?

Procurement frameworks enable buyers to place orders for goods and services without the need for multiple tenders.

Framework agreements are put in place with a list of pre-approved providers for a given timeframe, with agreed terms and conditions and legal protections.

Buyers can procure their required goods and services via a direct award to a supplier or by running a "mini-competition" within the framework.

See Arco's full range of safety products