HSE Press Office: Putting the record straight

Letters to the Editor
The Times
1 Pennington Street
London
E98 1TA

10 September 04

Sir

I enjoyed Simon Jenkins' lofty essay on Petrarch and mountains. I fear that I will not be able to purge the imaginary demons that are preventing Simon from enjoying his climb to the summit, but I want to assure your readers that the Health and Safety Commission has no intention of blocking their path, whether "towards the great and loftiest peak", Cader Idris or any other mountain.

The most common kind of fatal injury to employees is falling from a height in the workplace, accounting for nearly 70 deaths in 2003/4; we are committed to tackling the many unnecessary and preventable accidents in Britain which cost lives and British business dear.

Yours faithfully

BILL CALLAGHAN
Chair, Health & Safety Commission