Health and Safety Commission Height Aware Campaign

Bill Callaghan, Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission (HSC), will give the keynote opening address for both the morning and afternoon sessions of HSE's Height Aware campaign at Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium on Thursday, 22 June.

The HSE is running Height Aware in association with local authorities to warn trades people and anyone working at height - even at a low level - that they could be at serious risk of injury if they don't plan work properly, assess the risks and choose the right equipment.

Over 5,300 North West people have suffered injuries during the last four years, including 34 fatalities - an average of just over 25 per week.

The Old Trafford event is the region's biggest of the campaign and will see a total of over 300 companies from throughout the North West attend a half-day session to hear more about the often simple measures they can take to prevent adding to this toll.

While most professionals cleaning or maintaining multi-storey buildings are highly trained with specialist equipment, many trades people across the county working at low height risk their health and their livelihood to get a job done quickly. The HSE will use the events to emphasise that even simple tasks carried out at relatively low height, can lead to major injuries, and in some cases death, without proper care.

John McGrellis, HSE's Lead Co-ordinator in the North West for the Height Aware campaign, said: "The dangers involved in working at such low levels may seem less obvious to employees or small business
owners - which is why raising awareness of them is all the more important.

"Falls are preventable when work is planned properly, the risks are accurately assessed, and the correct equipment is used.  Accidents cost businesses money, but for a smaller operator, it can cost you much more than that - it could cost you your business. Worst of all for the individual - it could cost them their life.

"Even if you're not that high off the ground, a simple fall could see you ending up in plaster or worse.  It is impossible to underestimate the importance of this issue, and it makes absolute sense to take your safety seriously."

For further information and to read about the business benefits of being height aware, go to http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls or contact HSE's Infoline on 0845 345 0055.