Yorkshire and the Humber

A group of Wakefield College students has helped launch a new campaign in Yorkshire and Humber to prevent accidents in schools, colleges and universities.

Slips, trips and falls cause 60% of serious injuries to people working in education, according to the latest statistics from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Last year, there were more than 2,500 accidents in the UK education sector, costing nearly £50 million in compensation and lost time.

The HSE's national Shattered Lives campaign is highlighting the long-term consequences that slips, trips and falls can have on people's lives. Last year in Yorkshire and Humber slips, trips and falls caused five deaths, 1,402 major injuries, and 3,043 people were injured badly enough to require over three days' absence from work - a toll of injuries which cost the region an estimated £64,281.

In the Wakefield district alone there were 366 injuries in total caused by slips, trips and falls in 2007-8 which is why Wakefield College students have added their weight to the campaign by posing in 'Shattered Lives' masks outside Wakefield College's new state-of-the-art learning facility at Glasshoughton - The skillsXchange - to help raise awareness about the dangers.

John Rowe, HSE Principal Inspector for the Wakefield area said:

"Corridors and staircases in education buildings can be very busy places so it's vital that they're kept clean to prevent slips, trips and falls.

"We're encouraging teachers and lecturers to promote the well known 'walk - don't run' rule, and to make sure any spillages are cleaned up immediately to reduce the risk of accidents.

"People often view slips, trips and falls as trivial incidents but they can have devastating consequences. It's time to start taking action and this is why HSE is mounting its 'Shattered Lives' campaign."

Diane Henry, Wakefield College's Health and Safety Manager, added:

"So many deaths and major injuries are caused by accidents that are so easy to prevent - each one a tragedy for the individual involved.

"Simple measures really can make a positive difference to workplace safety - must accidents from slips and trips are easy to prevent by clearing up spillages straight away, and by making sure people don't run inside buildings or in busy places."

The HSE is running a national campaign to raise awareness about the issue, targeting people working in the food retail, catering and hospitality, food and drink manufacturing, building and plant maintenance, construction, health and education sectors.

Advice on how to prevent slips, trips and falls in workplaces is available on the HSE's website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/shatteredlives.

Public enquiries: HSE's InfoLine
0845 345 0055

PHOTO CAPTION: Wakefield College students help launch HSE's Shattered Lives campaign aimed at raising awareness of the risks of slips, trips and falls.

HSE information and news releases are available at http://www.hse.gov.uk

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