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News Release from: Health and Safety Executive | Subject: Ladders week
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 17 October 2005
HSE announces launch of ladders week
Last year 13 workers died from falls while working on a ladder, and more than 1200 suffered major injuries says The Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) announced a national initiative to promote safe use of ladders Beginning on 14 November, the initiative includes a week of events when HSE inspectors will work with ladder users and their employers, look at the current use of ladders and suggest sensible measures to improve safety
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 13 Jul 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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Ian Greenwood, HSE Falls from Height Team Leader, said: "With a little more planning and assessment of the risks, understanding of the limitations of ladders, proper maintenance and checking that users are competent, many of these accidents could be avoided.
"A major injury, such as a broken bone or fractured skull, can often be a life changing event for the person concerned and their family.
Quite apart from the personal suffering, an injury of this sort can adversely affect earning power and job prospects for a long time after the accident." During Ladders Week (14 - 18 November) each HSE local office is organising its own events, many in partnership with trade associations, local employers and equipment hire companies.
These events include Safety and Health Awareness Days, practical demonstrations of alternative equipment to ladders and breakfast meetings with employers and health and safety professionals.
To coincide with Ladders Week, HSE will be producing free guides to help raise awareness of the risks associated with ladder use and giving advice on how to use them safely.
Further information to help people who work at height, employers, and others with responsibilities under the law, is available free on the HSE website at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls/.
The website includes a number of "from experience" case studies of falls from ladders, together with advice on the precautions that should be taken to prevent such accidents.
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