HSE appoints PIPA to lead the way forward in the inflatable industry!
The long and short is that all the banging to HSE that we've all done over the last few years, combined with the sad incidents that have occurred has finally popped the inflatable industries head above the HSE radar and we are now one of the main targets.
The HSE has never endorsed the RPII as its a private company with no quality management or audit trail in our sector and are a for profit company with no desire to reinvest into the industry. HSE and they are not happy with the general practices, lack of structure and standards procedures within our industry and DEMAND change NOW!
The HSE has received MASSIVE pressure from its boss which is essentially parliament and namely the Harlow & surrounding areas MP'.
The HSE had no desire how we shape the industry up but did have strict criteria for us all to adhere to and the task is massive. The easiest decision for HSE would be to scrap what we have now and hand the inflatable industry over to ADIPS as they already have a proper structure, inspector registration and audit, a proper quality management system and HSE/ BSI liason.
The downside is that ADIPS do not represent our industry, have no feelings or emotion to it and its practices. They will hit our tiny industry nail with a massive lump hammer. Make all RPII and PIPA test and testers invalid and charge an average of £200+vat per test. No ifs, no buts, no scaremongering, just facts.
If it wasn't for the massive volume of work the Mark Jon from Airquee has put into the changes already and the fact he has (with the support of the PIPA PLG) convinced HSE that PIPA has what it takes to drive the industry forward we would all be screwed.
PIPA basically has 3 years to implement training of operators, register of operators, training of inspectors and expand the scope of the scheme to cover all inflatables, whilst finding the £200,000 in year 3 to fund the massive changes.
For the first time ever, PIPA is owned and regulated by the industry. Pipa pulled away from the Made Up Textiles Association last year as an independent non-profit organisation. It has NO PAID directors, NO paid expenses, No paid members or shareholders meaning every last £ is available to be pushed back into the industry.
The accounts are audited externally and will be available to view online. There is nothing hidden and PIPA is now a completely open shop. As of last year, PIPA is now made up of The Pipa Leadership Group members (PLG) and a voluntary appointed administration body that represent a full cross-section of the industry.
The Members of the PLG assigned to move this project forward are as follows, feel free to contact your nearest member for any info:
- Adam George - Inflatable testing wales & Associated brands
- Christopher Keen - AAA inflatable & Associated brands
- Mark Jon - Airquee & Associated brands
- Lee Scott - The betterbounce & Associated brands
- Peter Grand - The Grand affairs Group & ITATS
- Richard Taylor - Bounceabouts & Associated brands
- Paul Walkden - Inflatable World Leisure
- Clive Ellis - Essex Inflatables
- Matthew Sweed - MDS Leisure
- Gary Jones - Gaz Inflatables & Associated brands
- David Morris - Little Monsters & Associated brands
- John Simmons - PRII & Associated brands
The Pipa administration body contacts are Joe & Andrew Chalk who can be contacted as follows:
- Email: info@pipa.org.uk
- Telephone: 01379 788036
- Address: PIPA, 10B Red House Yard, Gislingham Road, Thornham Magna, Eye, Suffolk, IP23 8HH
I urge anyone with any previous views to let bygones be bygones and help the industry move forward. This is happening whether we like it or not and there is no option to fail!
A similar case has been demanded in both Holand and Germany which resulted in government intervention and a temporary ban. We all need to work together to ensure we get what we want out of our industry once and for all.
The full details will be published by the PIPA office as and when they are finalised with HSE.
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