Roofer warns firms about fall dangers

A paralysed man has urged small construction firms to make sure they stay safe after giving a talk at Haydock Park Racecourse in Newton-le-Willows.

Forty three-year-old Jason Anker was paralysed at the age of 24 while working for a small roofing firm in the Midlands.

He was climbing down a ladder after carrying out repairs to a flat roof when the ladder slipped, and he fell ten feet to the ground below.

Anker made the plea to nearly 400 construction bosses and self-employed workers at a free event on Thursday.

The event also had specialists from the construction industry and the Health & Safety Executive were also on hand to give the latest safety advice.

Anker said: "The job had overrun so we were rushing to finish it quickly which meant risks were taken. The ladder I used wasn't tied to the building and slipped away as I was climbing back down.

"I remember I couldn't feel my legs when I was lying on the ground and the doctors basically ended up telling me I'd never walk again. I was absolutely devastated. I just thought something like that would never happen to me.

"I think there's a temptation for small construction firms to take risks if they've got a deadline to meet, and another job to get to. But it's important they take on board that what happened to me could happen to their employees as well."

The HSE said a total of 42 construction workers were killed while at work in 2009 and 2010, accounting for more than a quarter of all workplace deaths. More than 3,000 also suffered major injuries.

As well as safe work at height, the safety event at Haydock Park Racecourse also included practical demonstrations on harness safety, asbestos and other dust-related diseases, power tool vibration injuries and working in confined spaces.

Mike Cross, HSE's head of construction in the North West, added: "It's vital we're able to get the message out to small construction firms that the risks their workers face are real, and it's great that Jason was able to help us do that at the Haydock event.

"If the ladder he was using had been tied to the building then it's unlikely he would have fallen. It would have taken just a few minutes to do this and would have meant Jason would still be able to walk today."

The free safety event was held as part of the Working Well Together initiative, which is a partnership between HSE and the construction industry and aims to improve health and safety in the sector.

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