Businesses are still failing their staff when it comes to managing work at height, as revealed by claims being made against employers.
Businesses are still failing their staff when it comes to managing work at height, as revealed by claims being made against employers.
Norwich Union’s own claims research* has highlighted that falls remain a major cause of injuries and fatalities. Phil Grace, Norwich Union’s casualty risk manager, says: “Industry needs to get its house in order by improving the control of work at height.”
And some of the most serious consequences are caused by falls from a “low height” – in other words, activities that are carried out close to the ground.
In one claim, valued at more than Ł200,000, an employee fell while working on a van that was located on a low loader. He was using a chair to stand on at the time.
In another, totalling Ł175,000, a chef fell 12ft from a ladder that he was using to replace light bulbs on a hotel frontage, causing ankle and wrist fractures, four months off work and the need for the hotel to find a replacement in the kitchen.
Grace adds: “Despite the implementation of new Working at Height Regulations (2005), businesses still seem oblivious to the risks involved and unwilling to put cheap and simple controls in place.
“Falls caused by working at height are happening across a wide range of sectors, including construction, agriculture, motor vehicle repair, haulage and freight transport and across service businesses such as window cleaners, electricians, painters and plumbers.”
-ends-
* Claims data 2006
For further information, please contact:
Jon Clements at Staniforth on 0161 919 8022/ 07989 414486
Sally Leeman at Norwich Union on 01603 684225/ 07800 699670
Notes to editors:
Norwich Union is the UK’s largest general insurer with a market share of around 14%, with a focus on insurance for individuals and small businesses.
It is a leading provider of life, pensions and investment products and one of the largest financial adviser (FA) providers. FAs provide over 70% of the company's long-term savings business in the UK.
Norwich Union’s news releases and a selection of images are available from Aviva's internet press centre at www.aviva.com/media.