HSE Starts Phase Two of 'Shattered Lives'
Britain's Health and Safety Executive launched the second phase of its Shattered Lives campaign on Monday to raise awareness about slips, trips, and falls at UK workplaces. The agency, equivalent to OSHA, said 61 people died and more than 14,000 were seriously injured in a slip, trip, or fall from height in British workplaces last year.
"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," said Marcia Davies, who heads HSE's Injury Reduction Programme. "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."
Fatalities and serious injuries arising from slips, trips, and falls cost British society an estimated $1.4 billion last year, according to the agency. The campaign is targeted at seven sectors where such incidents are most common: food retail, catering and hospitality, food and drink manufacturing, building and plant maintenance, construction, health care, and education. HSE's STEP interactive learning package with practical guidance to prevent slips and falls is available at this site.