Fatal falls spark safety campaign

Slips, trips and falls resulted in four fatalities and 2,136 injuries in Greater Manchester workplaces last year.

The shock statistics have prompted the launch of a new awareness campaign in the region by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

In total, 61 people died and more than 14,000 suffered serious injuries as a result of such accidents in British workplaces last year — costing society an estimated £700 million.

The second phase of the Shattered Lives campaign has been launched to highlight the devastating consequences and encourage employers to take action.

Marcia Davies, head of the HSE’s injury reduction programme, said: “People often view slips, trips and falls as trivial incidents, even comical, but they are no joke to those who suffer major injuries, a lifetime of disability, time off work and in the worst cases death.

“We want to raise awareness of how these incidents can happen and how they can be easily avoided by taking common sense actions and precautions at no or little cost.

“If you spot a hazard in your workplace, deal with it. Don’t assume that somebody else will.

“The lives of workers and their families are shattered by the serious consequences of these types of accidents. Simple measures introduced by businesses can make a positive difference to safety in the workplace.”

The campaign is targeted at seven sectors where there is a prevalence of such injuries: food retail, catering and hospitality, food and drink manufacturing, building and plant maintenance, construction, healthcare and education — though the risks can occur in any workplace.

To help businesses take preventive action, the HSE has launched STEP — an interactive learning package that provides practical guidance to help users tackle slips, trips and falls in their workplace.

It is free and can be accessed online: 

www.hse.gov.uk/slips/step/index.htm