New HSE leaflet/poster targets falls from vehicles

HSE Press Release: E037:04 - 25 March 2004

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published a new leaflet/poster with safety messages aimed at workers in the road haulage industry.

Avoiding falls from vehicles is published as a leaflet that folds out into a poster. It sets out the practical steps, in the form of a safety 'checklist', that workers can take to prevent them falling from vehicles. It also includes two case studies highlighting the injuries suffered by two workers who fell while unloading material from vehicles.

Dr William Gillan, HSE's Falls from Height and Workplace Transport Priority Programmes Manager said:

'Our figures show that every year over 700 people die or are seriously injured falling from vehicles. These incidents cause pain, grief and absence from work. We expect this initiative from HSE to have an impact on those figures. Workers can carry the leaflet to readily refer to the checklist and the poster provides a visual reminder of the key steps to safety.'

Copies of Avoiding falls from vehicles INDG395, ISBN 0 7176 2824 8 for priced packs of 20, price £5.00, or free single copies, are available from HSE Books: http://books.hse.gov.uk

Notes to editors

1. The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) has included Falls from Height and Workplace Transport as Priority Programmes. These programmes aim to reduce injury rates at workplaces.

2. More information on the Falls from Height Priority Programme is available on the HSE website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls and the Workplace Transport Priority Programme at http://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/index.htm

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