HSE LOOKING AT SAFE WORK AT HEIGHT

HSC press release C044:03 - 8 September 2003

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) today launched a new safety campaign focusing on working safely at height. As an example of good practice, inspectors visited the British Airways London Eye to look at the safe working methods used by its technical team.

Speaking at the London Eye, Bill Callaghan, Chair of the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) said: "Falling from height is the single biggest killer of workers in Great Britain. Last year 49 workers died and many thousands were seriously injured as a result of falling from height. In most of these cases, these deaths could have been prevented. We are working with industry to reduce the number of deaths and injuries and this campaign is one way we hope to reduce the risk of falls from height and improve safety at work."

Charles Horsefield, Head of HSE London field inspectors said: "Over the next two weeks, HSE inspectors will be visiting workplaces across London and construction sites across Great Britain to look at how work at height is being carried out. When working at height is unavoidable the risks must be properly assessed and safe-working methods adopted. Inspectors will advise and work with those who are trying to improve their management of fall from height risks and will enforce against those who are not."

To open the Falls From Height campaign in London, HSE Inspectors went up into the hub and spindle of the wheel 65 metres above the River Thames. There they looked at and learned about the safe work practices employed by the London Eye technical team.

David Sharpe, the General Manager of the London Eye said: "Safety is our number one priority. We have a comprehensive policy detailing clear objectives for the health, safety and welfare of our customers, staff, contractors and general public. The technical team carry out daily and annual maintenance of the London Eye. Not only do they keep the London Eye operating safely for passengers and staff, but they also employ safe working practices to ensure their own safety."

Over the next two weeks Inspectors will visit workplaces including industrial estates, airports, hospitals factories, schools and construction sites across London. They will concentrate on making sure that where work at height is taking place or planned, it is done safely. For instance, inspectors will be looking to see that:

• All work at height has been identified
• Work at height has been eliminated where possible
• Where elimination is not possible, fall prevention measures are in place such as guard-rails, scaffolding and safe working platforms,
• Where fixed measures are not possible, fall arrest systems are in place such as safety harnesses as well as other Personal Protective Equipment (PPE),
• The appropriate equipment has been selected and provided, and that it is well maintained, regularly inspected and properly used,
• Workers have been properly trained and their activities supervised, and
• Companies know how to choose suitable contractors and monitor their work while they are on site.

The London Don't Fall For It campaign coincides with a national construction falls from height blitz focusing on construction sites across Great Britain.

Notes to editors

1. In the last three years, from 1999/00 - 2001/02, 38 workers in London died and 2,224 suffered a major injury as a result of a fall from height.

2. Falls from height are the most common cause of fatal injury and the second most common cause of major injury to employees.

3. The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) has included Falls from Height in its eight Priority Programmes chosen to meet the Revitalising targets for the reduction in injury rates in the workplace.

4. The London Division of HSE's Field Operations Directorate was set up in April 2002 with the aim of meeting the unique health and safety at work challenges presented by the capital. This is the first such attempt at a pan-London initiative. The intention is to achieve greater impact by focusing resources on a single important issue.

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