The catering staff and students for the new food court at ncn's Clarendon campus, which opened in September 2008, are keen to ensure safety is high on their agenda and invited HSE and Nottingham City Council inspectors into their premises to offer advice on how to avoid accidents as part of the Shattered Lives campaign.
The kitchen currently provides an average of 1,500 meals a day for a total of 3,000 students, staff and visitors on campus each week.
In Nottinghamshire 853 people were seriously injured as a result of a slip, trip or fall from height at work last year. Nationally, 61 people died and more than 14,000 suffered serious injury.
Stuart Parry, HSE Inspector for Nottinghamshire said:
"Each year slips, trips and falls cost the British society nearly £700 million pounds. But what these figures don't reflect, is the extent to which these injuries affect individual workers and their families.
"Slips, trips and falls can be viewed as being minor, funny accidents but the effects are not. They can lead to major injuries, and a lifetime of disability or time off work and in worst cases fatalities. 'Shattered Lives' will encourage people to change their attitudes: if you spot a hazard, don't assume 'somebody else will sort it out'.
"Slips, trips and falls also shatter businesses through costs such as employee absence, sick pay and reduced productivity. Irrespective of the size of the business and the job that you do, it could happen to you."
Councillor Eunice Campbell, Nottingham City Council's Portfolio holder for Human Resources, Customer Service and Consultation, said:
"There are lots of ways for people to reduce slips, trips and falls in the workplace. Everyone has a part to play from the people who manage the staff to the people working for the company. Employers should ensure they put an effective management system in place, carry out regular risk assessments and make sure they are aware of the relevant laws and regulations. Staff need to be fully aware of the consequences of slips, trips and falls and be aware that their actions could make the difference between someone getting injured or not. So if you see a spillage - clean it up. Don't leave it till someone slips on it. We're keen to back the Shattered Lives campaign and help reduce the number of injuries in Nottingham."
Julie Harris, ncn Curriculum Leader for Hospitality and Catering, said:
'We're delighted to be supporting this important campaign as it's vital to raise awareness of the number of deaths and major injuries caused by accidents that are so easy to prevent. We have a non-slip floor surface in the preparation area of our kitchen and are always aware of the necessity of keeping the kitchen clean and tidy to avoid the risks of slipping on wet surfaces and tripping accidents. All our staff are trained to the highest standard and we are up-to-date with the latest advice from HSE."
Fatalities and serious injuries arising from slips, trips and fall incidents cost British society an estimated £700 million last year.
The campaign is targeted at seven sectors where there is a prevalence of such injuries: food retail, catering and hospitality, food and drink manufacturing, building and plant maintenance, construction, healthcare and education, although the risks can occur in any workplace.
To help businesses take preventive action the HSE launched STEP - an interactive learning package that provides practical guidance to help users tackle slips, trips and falls in their workplace. The tool is free and can be accessed online.
