E119:05 5 September 2005

Get it right when working at height

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has joined forces with Dulux Decorator Centers to promote safe working at height practices to painters and decorators.

From today, painters and decorators visiting nominated Dulux Decorator Centers across the country will be able to discuss the risks of working at height, complying with the new Working at Height regulations, suitable work at height equipment and best practice, with HSE inspectors, informally and without taking up too much of their working day.

Latest HSE statistics reveal the numbers of painters and decorators falling from height whist at work are not reducing amongst small and medium businesses, despite the construction industry becoming increasingly aware of the dangers when working at height.

• 2001/2, 254, painters and decorators were seriously injured as a result of falling from a height, 89 of which were falls over 2 meters.
• 2002/03, 223, painters and decorators were seriously injured as a result of falling from a height, 103 of the falls were from a low height, under 2 meters.
• 2003/4, 245, painters and decorators were seriously injured as a result of falling from height; six of the falls were fatal.

Painters and decorators are welcome to visit the following Dulux Decorator Centers during September to speak to an inspector about safely working at height: -

6 – Liverpool, 7 – Dundee, 8 – Shawpark, 12 Watford, 13 – Leeds, 14 – Birmingham,
14 – Hemel Hempstead, 15 – Newcastle upon Tyne, 15 – Nottingham, 19 – Stratford,
20 – Salford, 21 – Rayleigh, 26 – Southampton and 29 – Yeovil.

Notes to Editors

1. PASMA and International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) are both supporting the pilot initiative by offering discounts on training to small and medium sized businesses.

2. Journalists wishing to visit a Dulux Decorator Centre during the initiative to meet an inspector should contact Denise Lewisohn on 0207 717 6918.

3. Regional painter and decorator fall from height statistics are available from Denise Lewisohn.

Public Enquiries : HSE InfoLine, tel: 0845 345 0055, visit: www.hse.gov.uk/contact or write to: HSE InfoLine, Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG.

Press Enquiries : Journalists only : Denise Lewisohn 020 7717 6918

Out of hours 020 7928 8382