Big brother’s star builder ‘steps up’ to promote ladder safety

Professional builder and Big Brother star Craig Phillips says ‘safety’ is key when working with ladders. The construction entrepreneur and winner of the first series of the reality show today gave his support to the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) ladder safety campaign for 2009.

The campaign centres around a ‘ladder exchange’ which gives everyone the opportunity to get rid of old, damaged and broken ladders and trade them for new ones.

Over 5000 ladders have been exchanged under this scheme since it first launched in 2007.

Craig, currently on ITV1’s 60 Minute Makeover is well aware health and safety at every level is important, he says “To be a winner in the construction industry you have to take health and safety seriously.

“If you take a chance with dodgy ladders you are risking your life. Every month over 100 people fall off a ladder at work and suffer serious injuries.  So many of these accidents are avoidable and having safe equipment makes a huge difference. That’s why I think the ladder exchange is such a great idea”

“It’s great that my home city of Liverpool has been chosen as the venue to launch this national campaign. I hope companies not just here, but in every city and town in the UK will be able to trade in old ladders for new safer ones.”

In 2007/08 a total of 58 workers died and over 3600 employees suffered major injury as a result of a fall from height in the workplace. Many of these incidents could be avoided by using the right equipment and taking simple precautions. HSE is working in close partnership with industry to ensure that anyone adipex online involved in working at height uses the right equipment for the job and uses it safely.

Peter Brown HSE Head of Work Environment, Radiation and Gas Division said:

“Over the next few months, businesses will get the chance to get their ladders checked and, where necessary, trade them in for new ones at a heavily discounted price. HSE is working with Local Authorities, ladder manufacturers and retailers to address the safety issues around access equipment with employers and ladder users.

“We want anyone working at height to use the right ladder for the job and to use it safely. Ladder Exchange is the perfect opportunity for businesses to assess the risks involved in using ladders and to adopt sensible health and safety measures.”

The ladder exchange programme is one part of HSE’s ongoing Shattered Lives campaign which aims to reduce the number of fatal and major injuries each year that result from falling from a height.

Don Aers, Chairman of the Ladder Association said:

“Over two million people work on ladders daily in the UK and we want all of those workers to work safely. We enthusiastically support the Ladder Exchange because it’s an initiative, alongside training, that can really make a difference.”

When it comes to 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?

The exchange discount can be up to 50 per cent off and ladders can be exchanged at any of the partner retail outlets.

For more information please visit HSE website http://www.hse.gov.uk/shatteredlives