A popular Dundee city centre cafe is stirring up support for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in its 'Shattered Lives' campaign to highlight the devastating consequences of slips, trips and falls in the work place.

The Twin City Cafe is a thriving family business established in 1999 by the Taha family and is themed on all six of Dundee's twin cities.

The Taha family was keen to help generate support for the Shattered Lives campaign and welcomed environmental health inspectors from Dundee City Council onto their premises to show them the steps they take every day to avoid accidents from slips, trips and falls.

Throughout Scotland, 10 people died and over 4,000 suffered serious injury as a result of a slip, trip or fall from height in workplaces last year - in Dundee alone there were 151 serious injuries.

Mrs Taha, Twin City Cafe said: "We are proud of our health and safety record and would like other people working in cafes, restaurants and kitchens to take note of the statistics and advice, and to ensure that their staff are also safe at work."

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Alastair McGowan, HSE added: "I'm really pleased that Twin City Cafe and Dundee City Council are backing the campaign and helping us to pass on the message.

"Unfortunately, people often think that slips, trips and falls are trivial - even comical - but they are no joke to those who suffer major injuries, time off work and a lifetime of disability. And sometimes they result in fatal injuries."

McGowan said the HSE want to get people thinking about how these incidents. Simple measures introduced by businesses can make a positive difference.

Fatalities and serious injuries arising from slips, trips and fall incidents cost Scottish society an estimated £72m last year.

The campaign is targeted at seven sectors where there is a prevalence of such as building and plant maintenance, construction, healthcare and education, although the risks can occur in any workplace.

To help businesses take preventative 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 at www.hse.gov.uk/slips/step/index.htm. A forthcoming e-tool, 'WAIT', developed for HSE will help those who need to work at height select the most appropriate access equipment. WAIT should be available from mid-March.

(GK/JM)