news release and photocall 22 August 2008

There will be a photocall at 2.30 pm on Wednesday 27 August, 2008 at the Council Depot, Darklands Road, Swadlincote with Cllr John Bladen and Cllr Heather Wheeler with a mass of ladders

Falling from a height is the main cause of death in workplaces.

In September staff from South Derbyshire District Council will be out inspecting ladders and employers with dodgy ladders able to get up to a 50% discount on a new ladder at selected outlets.

Says Cllr John Bladen, South Derbyshire Champion for Risk Assessment, “This is Health and Safety in action at work. Our enforcement officers will be out and about all over the District during September checking ladders and even taking away the really dangerous ones. If you use a ladder in your day to day work and it’s dodgy, you can take it along to SGB Hire and Sale, Speedy Hire, HSS Hire or contact Ladderstore.com to get a new ladder at a reduced price.”

As well as checking ladders, Council specialists will be making sure people know about ladder safety and how to check that your ladder is fit for use.

Says Cllr Heather Wheeler, Leader of South Derbyshire District Council, “It’s the South Derbyshire way to educate before we enforce legislation and with this scheme, which has been organised by the Health and Safety Executive, we are taking action to save lives.”