Anglesey Wednesday 20th June 2006. More than 100 local business people gathered at TreYsgawen Hall, to attend a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) seminar, designed to highlight the dangers of working at heights. The event, part of the HSEs “Height Aware” campaign is a road show touring the UK and enables delegates to acquire up to date knowledge of the latest best practice and regulations regarding safe working at height and an opportunity to view the latest safety equipment.

Falling from height is the most common cause of workplace deaths. In 2004/2005, 53 people died and nearly 3800 were seriously injured as a result of falling from height at work. 60% of those injuries resulted from people falling from below head height. Falls from ladders and stepladders account for about a quarter of all injuries and it is estimated the cost to the UK economy is £60 million each year.

The event organiser, HM Principal Inspector, Chris Ward of the HSE, outlined the safety considerations when working at height and detailed the best practice for both powered and non powered access systems. Chris said” Take a moment not a fall. Every time you want to work at height stop and think and do a dynamic risk assessment; start with: could I avoid working at height, could I use powered access equipment, could I use something safer than a ladder, how can I secure the ladder ideally at the top, but always secure at the bottom.

The correct use of ladders and safety harnesses came under the spotlight when Ian Luke of County Safety Services, gave a presentation on the safety
procedures involved in the use of ladders both as a work platform and for access. His system, devised for satellite dish installers included tying the ladder to an anchor bolt in the wall of the building

Paul Beaumont of Anglesey based Sovrin Training, gave a presentation on Suspension Trauma, and the effects on the body when a person falls from height and is suspended in a safety harness. Delegates were shown the correct emergency response and first aid procedures to be carried out at the scene whilst awaiting the arrival of the emergency services. Paramedic Paul explained, ” The importance of correctly treating a person who is suspended in a safety harness is paramount. If they have been suspended for more than a couple of minutes, it is far more complex than just lowering them to the ground and allowing them to walk away.”

Outside the venue there were a number of demonstrations of access and safety equipment which delegates were able to see being operated in the correct manner by industry experts and some delegates took the opportunity to try out the latest equipment.