PASMA Annual Review

Chairman's Report

Welcome to PASMA’s first Annual Review.

The Council, Executive Committee and I personally feel very strongly that against a backdrop of very tough market conditions, global and national economic turmoil and the recent introduction of severe austerity measures, it is important to tell you, our members, of the good news story of your Association.

Since the early days of its formation over 35 years ago the Association has been at the forefront of championing the mobile access tower industry and ensuring that mobile access towers lead the way in providing safe, efficient and economic work at height.

 In its early days, it relied very much on the member companies and their representatives giving freely and voluntarily of their time to help shape and guide the fledgling industry. With the active encouragement of the (at that time) newly formed Health and Safety Executive, PASMA made its first faltering steps into the training arena.

It was a natural progression and very much in line with one of the major objectives of the Association – to ensure that the products supplied by its members are used safely.

Throughout the intervening years, the Association has continued to grow and expand, the PASMA training scheme has developed beyond recognition, representing a true success story, and the PASMA brand has been carefully cultivated and nurtured such that it is now recognised as the definitive source of information, guidance, advice and proof of competence in all matters ‘tower’.

The success of the Association, particularly the PASMA training scheme, has provided the financial security and resources with which to undertake projects and initiatives that otherwise would have been impossible. This has allowed us to invest in, and purchase outright, our new headquarters, which I am very pleased to report were officially opened in March of this year by Judith Hackitt CBE, Chair of the Health & Safety Executive, in the company of many distinguished guests from all sectors of industry.

These resources have also allowed us to recruit and put in place our own, directly employed staff to enhance the service we provide to members.

In these difficult times, when we have to contend with not only the wider economic challenges that face all industries, but where we also need to defend our traditional markets from the encroachment of other work at height products, it is essential that we have a strong and active Association taking the lead and actively engaging on our behalf, to protect and preserve our industry. PASMA is in exactly that position - we have never been stronger and we have never been better resourced to face these challenges.

It is most appropriate that I conclude my contribution by acknowledging the considerable effort and commitment of all the team at PASMA and to extend our thanks, both personally and on behalf of the Association, to the PASMA staff, the Council members, and the Chairmen and Committee members of the Training, Hire Assembly and Technical Committees, who make our success possible.

I know that PASMA can continue to rely on the continued support and commitment of you, our members, to ensure that next year’s report will be as glowing as this year’s.

Roger Verallo

Chairman