2012 Safety & Health Expo Sees TB Davies Achieve New Heights of Safety
TB Davies is climbin
g to new heights after a busy launch-week at the Safety & Health Expo at the NEC Birmingham. The ladder manufacturer launched a staggering six new products at the safety-based show, aimed at industry professionals.
The three-day exhibition is aimed at health and safety professionals from all areas of industry and featured over 100 hours of educational content. Building on the success of its Little Giant range, TB Davies has launched new extension ladders, articulated step ladder and work platforms.
Last Tuesday at the Safety & Health Show, TB Davies launched The Cage, a fully insulated fibreglass work platform with a new auto closing gate for complete user safety.
Falls From Ladders Lower As Latest Figures Show 11% Drop
FOR the second year running, figures released by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) reveal that the number of injuries involving the use of ladders and step ladders has fallen from 2132 in 2007/08 to 2011 in 2008/09 and 1817 in 2009/10. This despite an average overall increase of 51 per cent in the total number of falls from height reported to HSE over the same period. The figure of 1817 compares with 2631 ladder-related injuries reported to HSE in 2001/02, a drop of 31 per cent.
According to the Ladder Association, no one single initiative is responsible, but rather a combination of initiatives driven by the association itself and in collaboration with other agencies, in particular HSE and the Access Industry Forum (AIF), of which it is a founder member.
“Whatever the sceptics may say, it cannot be denied that these welcome statistics coincide with a significant increase in the number of users successfully completing a Ladder Association training course,” comments Chris Ball, chairman of the association. “Since the training scheme was first launched in November 2005, the year-on-year increase, after an initial exponential growth in the first few years, has been consistent at around 25 per cent for the last couple of years.” Read this post
HSE In New Rational Approach to Ladder Regulation
Whilst the Health & Safety Executives focus on ladder safety may have improved accidents the Work at Height regulations implemented in 2005 have led to confusion and costly interpretations that are suffocating British industry and not necessarily improving safety.
In March 2011, the Government established an Independent Review of Health and Safety legislation to make proposals to identify opportunities for reducing the burden of health and safety legislation on UK businesses while maintaining the progress made in improving health and safety outcomes. This review was chaired by leading risk management specialist Professor Ragnar Löfstedt.
David Gray, Managing Director of TB Davies, said: “The well intentioned regulations have mutated themselves into a bureaucratic nightmare where the simplest tasks cannot be completed without employers wrapped in reams of red tape and escalating costs passed to consumers.” The Löfstedt report recommends that a number of existing regulations are amended, clarified or reviewed, including the Work at Height Regulations 2005. Read this post
HSE ‘Ladder Exchange’ Ended on 31 December
The UK Health & Safety Executive’s – HSE Ladder Exchange programme, under which ladder owners can get their ladders checked and if necessary replaced at heavily discounted prices, came to a close on the 31st December.
The HSE said that ladders with missing rungs and bent sides are among those that have been surrendered during the programme. Peter Brown, HSE, said; “We’ve had more than 900 ladders exchanged.” He added, “Every month more than 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.”
For more information on Ladder Safety or Ladder Training contact TB Davies directly on 029 2071 3000 or via email
Ladder Exchange Scheme Continues To Replace Dodgy Old Ladders
The high profile launch last month by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is concerned that some contractors are still putting themselves at risk by using out of date and shoddy old equipment. It has teamed up with TB Davies to raise awareness about the dangers and urge its customers to ensure their ladders are safe to use.
Health and safety inspectors will be carrying out spot-checks to make sure that work is done safely and the correct equipment is being used.
For more information on Ladder Safety or Ladder Training contact TB Davies directly on 029 2071 3000 or via email
TB Davies Ready To Roll Out HSE Ladder Exchange Scheme
Ladder manufacturer and distributor TB Davies is working closely with the HSE as a primary partner to take thousands of dodgy ladders out of the market place in a new Ladder Exchange campaign. Running through its national network of resale partners the company is offering to take old or damaged ladders in part exchange for complaint and safe new access equipment.
Ladder and access products are a critical part of many contractors and businesses tool kit, which is why the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has been working with local authorities and partner businesses to remove 5,500 dodgy ladders from the workplace over the last two years. The deal is part of a joint campaign co-ordinated by the HSE to reduce the number of work place injuries and deaths associated with using inappropriate or damaged ladders.
Big Brother star and successful property developer Craig Phillips was on hand to lend his support to the project at this week’s press launch in Liverpool. Peter Brown, the HSE’s head of work environment, radiation and gas division, said, “In 2007/08, 58 workers died and over 3600 were seriously injured as a result of a fall from height in the workplace. Over a quarter of these incidents involved ladders. We want anyone working at height to use the right ladder for the job and to use it safely.”
TB Davies ready to roll out HSE Ladder Exchange scheme
TB Davies has a national network of resellers that operate on an independent and group basis. These outlets have agreed to promote and participate in the scheme adding hundreds of additional access points at which ladder users can trade in their old equipment. Sales Manager Francis Camilleri said, “With the economy straining most companies budgets this scheme provides an excellent opportunity for those who instead of holding on to something they know is unsuitable or unsafe, be able to upgrade it at a fraction of the normal price.”
The company has a wide portfolio of ladder and access products made under their Horizon, Summit and Pinnacle banners available from stockists or direct to site the next day. Director David Gray explained, “With the broad range of site safe product such as podiums, glass fibre ladders and towers we supply on a next day service there is no excuse for contractors using potentially life threatening equipment.”
For more information on Ladder Safety or Ladder Training contact TB Davies directly on 029 2071 3000 or via email
Shattered Lives – Ladder Exchange Initiative 2009 Coming Soon
This year the Ladder Exchange Initiative will run from 1 September until 31 December 2009. If you have a ladder, which is bent, broken or battered you, can part exchange it for a new one at any one of our partner outlets who are offering discounts on the sales of all ladders at very competitive rates. It also provides duty holders with an opportunity to review pre-use checks, training, supervision and other arrangements for ladder work.
Over the last two years, HSE has worked collaboratively with Local Authorities, and several partner outlets, to remove over 5,500 ‘dodgy’ ladders from the workplace. Because of these successes, Ladder Exchange will now be an annual initiative.
During 2007/8 58 workers died and 3623 suffered a serious injury as a result of a fall from height. Ladders remain the most common agent involved accounting for approximately a third of all reported falls from height incidents. This is often because the ladder specified is inadequate for the job or the investigation identifies it has not been correctly maintained. It also the case that in many instances the operative is insufficiently trained to select or use the access product they are using.
These issues can be rectified with some straightforward training and a better understanding of the working at height regulations. Our website provides a number of documents to assist you in selecting and assessing your ladder and access stock. You are also able to find details of your nearest participating Ladder Exchange outlet who will give you a discount for ladders that you determine are not up to the standards required.
For more information on Ladder Safety or Ladder Training contact TB Davies directly on 029 2071 3000 or via email
HSE Warns Employers To Safeguard Employees Working At Height
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning employers to ensure they take proper precautions to prevent employees from falling from height.
This warning follows HSE’s prosecution of a Coventry company after an employee dislocated two fingers, fractured his left wrist and injured his eye socket after falling from a 3.5m high roof. HSE brought charges against the company under Regulation 4 and Regulation 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 following its investigation into the incident on 2 December 2008 at a unit in Bilton Industrial Estate, Coventry.
Thornett Mechanical Services Ltd, of Napier Street, Coventry, was fined a total of £2500 and ordered to pay costs of £2151.50 at Coventry Magistrates’ Court on 13th May 2009 after the company pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety legislation.
The employee was constructing the roof of an acoustic booth at a height of 3.5 metres. Access to the roof was via a mobile tower scaffold. To undertake the roof work, it was necessary for the employee to work on the roof and use two planks to kneel and stand on. He was kneeling on the roof perimeter when his drill bit broke, jolting him forward. As a result, he lost his balance and fell onto a concrete floor.
Speaking after the case, HSE investigating inspector Pam Folsom said: “Thornett Mechanical Services Ltd failed to carry out a risk assessment or plan a safe system of work. This could have involved fabricating the roof at floor level and lifting it into position so that the perimeter fixings could then be undertaken from the tower scaffold, or erecting edge protection around the roof’s perimeter as the tower scaffold only covered the width of the booth.
“The injured man had not been trained to work at height and his supervisor had not been trained to conduct risk assessments. Furthermore, the supervisor had not done any work at height training himself.
“Such failures are unacceptable, especially as HSE has published a wealth of advice and guidance for employers to help them reduce the risk of falls from height. HSE has also recently launched the ‘Shattered Lives’ campaign to raise awareness of slips, trips and falls in the workplace.”
For more information on Ladder Safety or Ladder Training contact TB Davies directly on 029 2071 3000 or via email
e-Learning Tool For HSE W-A-I-T Programme Launched
The HSE is about to launch an e-learning tool aimed at the occasional user of access equipment. WAIT will help you choose the safest type of access equipment, if you need to work at height. It is especially useful if you are self employed or a manager or supervisor of a small or medium sized enterprise.
The tool may also assist individuals who want to find out more information on the variety of work at height access equipment available. It provides guidance based on the information you put in about the type of task you are doing and the environment you are working in.
WAIT helps you select the most appropriate equipment, acting as a supplement to your assessment of the health and safety risks caused by the job. Ideally, you need to use the tool at least a day before the planned work activity, taking into account likely weather conditions etc, as this will help you decide what equipment you need, which you may need to hire.
For more information on Ladder Safety or Ladder Training contact TB Davies directly on 029 2071 3000 or via email
HSE Launches Dangers of Falls From Vehicles Campaign
February sees the re-launch of a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) campaign that warns about the dangers of falls from vehicles. This type of incident involving workplace transport is a major cause of injuries and costs industry over £35 million each year. The campaign will highlight the many cost effective ways that exist to stop these falls happening.
Last year more than 1600 workers were injured and 4 were killed by falling from vehicles.
Marcia Davies, HSE Director of Injuries Reduction said: “We are running this campaign to raise awareness and to help to stop these needless and sometimes tragic injuries. Falls from vehicles even from a relatively low height, can cause severe and life-changing injury and most are easily preventable.
“Those responsible for managing and planning work with and on vehicles should try to minimise the extent to which tasks have to be carried out at height as one obvious way to prevent falls. There are often easy alternative ways of working to eliminate the need to climb to a height. Also it is vital that when new vehicles are purchased or rented, buyers look for design features that make access safer and think whether working at height can be avoided by ordering equipment with ground based controls.
“The campaign is focusing primarily on those who decide what type of vehicles are used and the way they are used, rather than the people using them. This is because so many injuries are caused by poor vehicle design and inadequate delivery arrangements. There are simple cost effective solutions that businesses can take to manage and drastically reduce the risk of falling from vehicles”
Falls from vehicles are the second most common vehicle-related accidents in the workplace. It is essential that everyone responsible for working with transport is aware of the risks and the consequences of falling from these sorts of heights and the need for precautions.
When companies are investing in new fleet vehicle buyers should require basic safe design features. HSE advises that the specification for access to vehicles should include safety steps, handrails/hand holds and slip resistant floors.
