The Health and Safety Executive's (HSE's) national campaign to cut the number of slips, trips and falls has been backed by Colchester Zoo, in a move that could encourage more people to undertake OHSAS 18001 training.

By publicising the Shattered Lives initiative, the HSE hopes to raise awareness about the affect that injuries caused by slips, trips and falls in the workplace can have on people's lives.

In Essex, where Colchester Zoo is based, there were 1,066 such incidents during 2008/09, with 763 people having to take more than three days off work following a slip, trip or fall.

Anthony Tropeano, zoological director at Colchester Zoo, explained that reducing the risk of injuries to staff is important at the attraction, which has more than 60 acres of parkland and lakes to maintain and 250 species of animal to look after.

"We have to think about the potential risks all the time - everyone has a right to go home safely," he stated.

Major injuries were sustained by more than 10,000 workers in Britain during 2008/09 as a result of a slip or trip, while a further 4,000 were seriously hurt after a fall from height, the HSE revealed.

Posted by Andy Finch

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