Biggest workplace killers tackled on Lancashire industrial estate

Date:

29 July 2009

Release No:

HSE/NW/019redmarsh/09

A large Lancashire industrial estate will be targeted next week as part of a new initiative to tackle the county's three biggest workplace killers.

Representatives from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Wyre Borough Council will visit nearly 120 businesses on the Red Marsh industrial estate in Thornton Cleveleys. They will provide information about the biggest risks to workers - asbestos, falls from height and workplace transport.

Steven Smith, HSE's Principal Inspector for Lancashire, said:

"It's surprising how many people don't know what the dangers are where they work, and take huge risks everyday as a result. We hope our joint visit in partnership with the council will help to prevent serious injuries and ill health in the future.

"We regularly investigate completely avoidable incidents which can have a devastating impact on the lives of workers and their families. We'll be urging people on the industrial estate to put in simple measures to improve safety.

"Employers should provide training before allowing workers to operate vehicles, make sure ladders and stepladders are in a good condition, and use licensed asbestos contractors to remove asbestos.

"They should also make sure that other tradespeople working on a site know where asbestos is so they avoid disturbing it. It's therefore essential that companies seek advice about the location of asbestos before they start work."

Asbestos was regularly used as a building material from the 1950s until it was banned in the year 2000. It becomes dangerous when it is disturbed during refurbishment projects, and the fibres from it can cause cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Every week, 40 workers die from asbestos-related diseases in the UK.

Falls from height are another major cause of workplace deaths. On average, 13 people die every year as a result of falling from a ladder, and nearly 1,200 are seriously injured.

Inspectors will also highlight the dangers of workplace transport, with an average of 45 deaths and 4,000 major injuries from incidents involving transport each year. They are encouraging businesses to ensure routes are clearly signposted for vehicles, and that they are regularly maintained.

Malcolm Reece, Health, Safety and Licensing Manager for Wyre Borough Council, said:

"Next week's visit should prove invaluable to the many businesses on Red Marsh. It will encourage them to look again at established working practices that might not be as safe as they imagine.

"The council takes the health and safety of those employed in the borough very seriously and if this initiative stops just one accident, or one case of asbestos-related disease, in the future it will have been worth the effort."

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