'Life on Mars' star scales new heights for HSE's ladder safety campaign in North Yorkshire - 19 June 2007

The Health and Safety Executive has teamed up with York Theatre Royal to promote the HSE's 2007 ladder safety campaign.

Marshall Lancaster, well known to TV audiences as DC Chris Skelton in BBC One's hit 'Life on Mars' is starring in the theatre's current production of Wuthering Heights - which runs until 23 June. Marshall has stepped up to the challenge on behalf of the HSE in an effort to encourage people to 'take a moment not a fall.'

Every month 100 people fall off a ladder at work and suffer serious injury. Tradespeople and anyone working at height, even at a low level could be at serious risk of injury if they don't plan work properly, assess the risks and choose the right equipment. So this year the Health and Safety Executive are running 'ladder exchange' in a bid to remove 4000 dodgy ladders from workplaces across the UK. HSS and SGB Taskmaster are taking part in the campaign where customers who bring in their old ladders will qualify for a substantial saving on a new pair of ladders.

David Snowball, the Health and Safety Executive's Regional Director, said:

"The 1200 fatal and major injuries each year that result in a fall from a ladder cost the economy more than £60 million.

"In 2005/06 a total of 46 workers across the country died and a further 3351 employees suffered major injury as a result of a fall from height in the workplace. In Yorkshire and the Humber one person died and 138 suffered major injury as a result of a fall from height.

"Many of these incidents can be avoided by using the right equipment and taking simple precautions. We are working in close partnership with industry to ensure that anyone involved in work at height to use the right equipment for the job and use it safely".

Whilst most professionals cleaning or maintaining multi-storey buildings are highly trained with specialist equipment, many trades people across the region working at low height risk their health and their livelihood to get a job done quickly.

When it comes to increasing ladder safety, always ask yourself three simple questions:

• Do you need a ladder or should you use something different?
• Is it the right ladder?
• Are you using the ladder safely?

More information can be obtained on the HSE website.

The event is part if the HSE's 'Ladder Exchange 2007' activity which will continue across the region throughout June, July and August.

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