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14 October 2005 - HSE Ladder Week
Initiative
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The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are launching a week long
event, commencing on 14 November 2005. The aim of the initiative is
to promote the safe use of ladders for a reduction in the number of fatalities
and serious injuries incurred through incorrect use of ladders in the workplace.
Local HSE offices will organise individual events working in
partnership with such groups as the following:
The events will include the following:
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Safety and Health Awareness Days.
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Practical demonstrations of alternative equipment to ladders.
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Breakfast meetings with employers and health and safety
professionals.
During ladder week, HSE professionals will work with employers
and employees who's work includes the use of ladders providing advice and
suggesting measures to improve safety.
Falls from height is the number one cause of workplace
fatalities and one of the main causes of serious injuries. One third
of all falls from heights attributes to ladder workers. In 2003/04
figures show 13 ladder workers were killed with more than 1,200 receiving major
injuries.
Ian Greenwood, HSE Falls from Height Team Leader said:
"With a little more planning and assessment of the risks,
understanding of the limitations of ladders, proper maintenance and checking
that users are competent, many of these accidents could be avoided.
"A major injury, such as a broken bone or fractured skull, can often be a life
changing event for the person concerned and their family. Quite apart from the
personal suffering, an injury of this sort can adversely affect earning power
and job prospects for a long time after the accident."
Further information on Ladders Week will be available on the HSE
website from the beginning of November. Alternatively, information
is available from local HSE offices, whose contact details can be accessed from
the HSE website by clicking the following:
HSE
local offices contact numbers
HSE's Guide to the Work at Height Regulations 2005, in pdf
format, can be accessed by clicking the following:
Work at Height Regulations 2005
An HSE webpage providing advice, case studies etc of falls from
heights can be accessed by clicking the following:
Falls from height
Article by Alexandra Johnston
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