Campaign launched to cut work injuries

Feb 3 2010 By The Journal

SLIPS and trips caused 2,118 injuries to workers in the North East last year.

The Health and Safety Executive revealed new accident statistics as it launched a campaign to cut the most common types of workplace injuries which cost industry £800m last year.

In 2008/09 in the North East there were 714 major injuries to workers, as well as 1,404 workers having to take over three days off work.

The HSE is launching a new phase of its Shattered Lives campaign, aimed at reducing trips and falls in the workplace by raising awareness of potential dangers.

The campaign is targeted at those sectors where there is a high number of falls each year, particularly health and social care, education, food manufacturing, food retail, catering and hospitality, building and plant maintenance, and construction.

On the new campaign website www.hse.gov.uk/shatteredlives there is advice on how to reduce the risks. David Cole, HSE principal inspector for the North East, said: "These figures highlight the very real and serious nature of preventable slip, trip and fall incidents in the workplace.  Slips, trips and falls might sound funny but they shatter the lives of thousands of British workers ever year.

"Making improvements doesn’t need to cost the earth and we are encouraging people to visit the Shattered Lives site, where they will be able to get simple and  cost effective solutions to hazards."