HSE/GNN.NE/218 /07 6 June 2007
Businesses in Tynedale are being urged to dump their dodgy ladders and exchange them for a new safe version - at a discount.
As part of the Safer Working Communities initiative taking place this week in the district, Tynedale Council and HSE have teamed up with J T Dove Ltd, Bridge End Industrial Estate in Hexham to offer businesses a 35 per cent discount off the trade price of a new ladder when they trade in their old one until the end of June.
The initiative is part of a national Ladders Exchange campaign, which aims to reduce the risk of workers falling from a ladder by taking 4,000 'dodgy' ladders out of the workplace and to improve the standard of access equipment being used.
In the UK every month 100 people fall off a ladder and suffer serious injury and in 2005/06 46 workers died and 3,351 employees suffered a major injury as a result of a fall from height in the workplace.
Pam Waldron, HSE Head of Operations in Yorkshire and the North East, said:
"HSE is encouraging people in small maintenance companies and those who use ladders such as windows cleaners, electricians, glazers, plumbers and heating fitters to use the correct ladder for the job. If they think the ladder they use is sub standard then we urge them to replace it with a more appropriate one.
"You can't take risks with ladders. The dangers involved in working at height, even at low levels, may not always be obvious. Falls are preventable when work at height is planned properly, the risks are accurately assessed and correct equipment is used.
Our advice is: "If it's right to use a ladder, use the right ladder and use it safely!"
John Herron, J T Dove Ltd Branch Manager, said: "We are conscious of health and safety in our environment and we want contractors who use us to be conscious of it in their workplaces too. "
Tynedale Safer Working Community week runs until Friday, 8 June and aims to make the district a safer place to work. During the week, organised jointly by HSE and Tynedale Council, various events and workshops are being held covering a wide range of health and safety topics. These include risk assessments, manual handling, slips, trips, fire risk assessments, smoking cessation and healthy living.
Ends
A picture of JT Dove Branch Manager, John Herron with a local tradesman is attached.
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Issued on behalf of the HSE by Government News Network North East
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