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Monday, 25 February 2008 15:45 |
 …..emotive words from the HSE - and the name given to its latest campaign to reduce the number of slips, trips or fall accidents at work. Ladderstore heard about this new initiative and knew that it had to be involved. Yes, we are a company out to sell products, but we do so with a conscience and we make no bones about the fact that we want everyone to use the ladders, steps and access equipment we sell, safely.
Tony Almond is our point of contact at the HSE for Shattered Lives. When we met with him we had a lot of questions surrounding the HSE’s objectives and on learning more we did not hesitate to commit.
On the basis that anything that can save a life or avoid injury has got to be worth a little time, we thought we’d relay to you some of the questions Ladderstore’s MD Gail Hounslea put to Tony and the responses he gave. GH: “First off, I want to ask you why the campaign name? It seems quite dramatic.” TA: “You are right, it is obviously chosen to grab attention, but having said that, there is no question that an accident at work truly can shatter lives for those involved. Not just the worker involved, but their colleagues, their friends and their family – the impact goes beyond the person who is injured or whose life has been tragically cut short”.
 GH: “Last year as part of the HSE Ladder Exchange you focused on using ladders safely. Is that still the case with the Shattered Lives Campaign?”
TA: “The campaign this time is not just focusing on ladders, we want to prevent any slip, trip or fall at work.”
GH: “Is there a reason for this wider objective?”
TA: “The figures sadly speak for themselves. There were 10,790 major injuries in 2006/7 as a result of a slip or trip, while falls from height continue to be a major cause of fatality with 45 deaths and 3,409 major injuries during 2006/7.”
GH: “Will you be looking to reach everyone in the workplace or is this unrealistic?”
TA: “As far as slips or trips are concerned we want to focus this time round on food manufacturing and food processing, food retail, catering and hospitality. This is because slips and trips are the main cause of major injury in these areas.”
GH: “From Ladderstore’s perspective it is obviously your work aimed at reducing falls from height that is most relevant. Will you target particular industries with the Campaign?”
TA: “Yes, we want to reach the construction industry, the various trades involved in building and plant maintenance and also facilities managers.”
 GH: “And what is your message this time?”
TA: “The key word is Competence. We want employers to ensure that their personnel know how to use a ladder correctly. This is all about preventative action. There is no point waiting until an accident has occurred, when measures can be easily and simply put in place to prevent it happening in the first place. We want to encourage everyone involved in work at height to get knowledge and skills they need to work safely – which is where you come in.”
On further discussion Ladderstore agreed to run half-day training courses which meet all of the criteria that the HSE looks for in the safe and competent use of ladders.
You can find out more about ladder training courses over at Ladderstore.com. You can find more information about the HSE's Shattered Lives campaign over at the HSE's website - www.hse.gov.uk/shatteredlives/index.htm.
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