A 63-year-old window cleaner from Dudley in the West Midlands is supporting the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) ‘Shattered Lives’ slips, trips and falls campaign, using his own experiences to highlight the dangers of falls from height.

In July 2006, Ken Bradley was up a ladder cleaning windows when the ladder slipped and he fell.

Mr Bradley was so seriously injured that he had to give up his job cleaning windows – a new business venture he had undertaken after being made redundant from his job the year before.

He broke his hip and wrist in the fall – and was in hospital for nine days. His hip had to be

pinned and stapled back together – and his injuries mean he can no longer climb up ladders, or do many other tasks he once carried out.

Mr Bradley now works as a school crossing warden near his home – and despite the severity of his injuries when he fell, he says he realises that the situation might have been even worse.

‘I felt the ladder slip from under me and I grabbed a window to try and stop myself from falling,’ said Mr Bradley. ‘But I couldn’t reach.

‘I don’t really remember much after that until I woke up in hospital – but I do know I was lucky to escape with the injuries I got.’

Mr Bradley said that the accident also caused him to lose confidence.

‘I’d have done anything once, but once the confidence has gone, it makes you think twice. And I can no longer walk as far as I used to be able to – and I certainly can’t clamber up and down ladders.’

Mr Bradley said that the fall affected his life in ways that were not immediately obvious.

‘I almost missed a family holiday because I still had the cast on my wrist – luckily, it was taken off a few days before, but getting insurance to cover my injuries was a nightmare.’

He now wants others to make sure they do not suffer the same fate – and urges people to visit the Shattered Lives website.

‘After the fall, I went over it time and time again in my head and wondered whether

I could have done anything differently.

‘I hope others take this on board and make sure they always assess any situation for risk before starting a task.’

HSE inspector Brian Martin said that Mr Bradley’s accident showed that any fall from height could have devastating consequences.

‘It doesn’t have to be on a construction site or tall building – slips, trips and falls can be seen as comical, but when they result in injuries like Ken’s, it’s proof that they are anything but funny.

‘However, the vast majority of slips, trips and falls can be easily prevented. It is a case of common sense.

‘If people take a good look at their surroundings, watch where they are walking – and use the proper equipment – many serious injuries could be avoided.’

The new Shattered Lives campaign website offers information on how to reduce the risk of slips, trips and falls in the workplace easily and cost effectively, with advice from companies such as Sainsbury’s on how to reduce risk in the workplace. More information is available at www.hse.gov.uk/shatteredlives.

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