27-02-2008
HSE launches campaign in England's south-west
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This week will see the launch of the Shattered Lives Campaign in the south-west of England, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has confirmed.
Created in order to increase the awareness of the consequences of workplace "slips, trips and falls", the new campaign is to be promoted across the south-west with the participation of local authorities.
According to data released by the organisation, over the course of 2007 a total of almost 11,000 employees were left with serious injuries after either falling or tripping. "Slips, trips and falls can be viewed as being minor, funny accidents but the effects are not," said Andy Shaw, an inspector for the HSE. "It can lead to major injuries and a lifetime of disability or time off work - and in worst cases, fatalities."
Mr Shaw also noted that this type of workplace injury, which may affect tradesmen such as plumbers and builders, generates costs to society of almost £811 million every year.