WORKING AT HEIGHT- HSE AND VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS SOLVE PROBLEMS TOGETHER.

HSE press release: E175:03 - 15 September 2003

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors checked in to Virgin Atlantic Airway's maintenance hangar at Heathrow Airport in West London today to highlight the challenges of working safely at height. HSE has worked closely with Virgin Atlantic in designing the hangar to solve the unique problems of working at height in the aircraft maintenance industry. Virgin Atlantic maintenance crew work at heights of up to 18m to examine and carry out repairs to aircraft.

Speaking at Virgin Atlantic's hangar at Heathrow, Timothy Walker HSE Director General, said, "Virgin Atlantic's hangar is an excellent example of industry working with the HSE to reduce the serious risks associated with working at height. HSE congratulates companies like Virgin who are acting to reduce these risks".

Chris Davey, Virgin Atlantic's Hangar Manager said, "The health and safety of our staff is of paramount importance. When we designed our hangar, we were aware of the unusual challenges of working at height around our aircraft and HSE helped us to meet these challenges and find appropriate solutions. Our staff can now work safely using a unique nose dock that fits around the aircraft, as well as using specialised equipment to maintain the fin."

HSE inspectors are out in force across the capital in the second week of the 'Don't Fall for It' falls from height campaign. Inspectors will be calling industrial estates, airports, hospitals, factories, schools and construction sites. The main focus areas will be the elimination of work at height where possible, and where not possible, looking to see fall prevention measures such as well as guardrails, scaffolding and safe working platforms.

Timothy Walker added, "Last year 49 workers died in Great Britain from falls from height, eight of those in London, and most of these deaths were preventable".

Note to Editors

1. The new Virgin Airways Atlantic hangar opened on 7 October 2002.

2. The London falls from height inspection campaign started on Monday 8 September and will finish on Friday 19th of September.

3. In the last three years 2000/01 to 2002/03, 29 workers died in London and 192 across Great Britain as a result of a fall from height.

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

5. 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.

Press enquiries

All enquiries from journalists should be directed to the HSE Press Office