Working safely courses news: Blackpool Tower window cleaner backs campaign

Category: IOSH Working Safely
Monday 1st of March 2010

The man in charge of cleaning the highest windows in the UK has giving his backing to a health and safety campaign.

Students on working safely courses may already know about the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) Shattered Lives campaign, which has received the support of Dave Hulme, who is the window cleaner on Blackpool Tower.

The scheme aims to promote how slips at work can be easily prevented and reduce the number of people who are seriously injured in trips and falls at work, which stood at 4,000 in 2008-09.

Mr Hulme, who works for Cumbrian engineering company MP Marine, uses a special harness to keep him safe while he cleans the Walk of Faith glass floor at the top of the famous landmark.

"Working 150 metres above the ground isn't really any more dangerous than working 15 metres above the ground," Mr Hulme said.

He added that it is vital to have the right equipment in place to carry out a job safely, no matter what height you are working at.

Posted by Helen Winstanley

News Index