AN AWARD-WINNING fish and chip chain is supporting a campaign to prevent accidents at work.

Barnacles is backing the Health and Safety Executive’s Shattered Lives campaign, which targets slips, trips and falls in the work place.

The firm, which runs fish and chip restaurants and takeaways throughout the region, including in Darlington, Stockton and Middlesbrough, recently invited staff from Stockton Borough Council’s environmental health department to talk to staff in its Billingham branch.

In the past year, the North-East has experienced one fatality and more than 1,900 injuries in the workplace as a result of a slip, trip or fall from height.

Coun Steve Nelson, Stockton council cabinet member for housing and community safety, said: “We want to get people thinking about how these incidents happen and how they can be easily avoided.”

Frances Smith, operations director for Barnacles, said that, over the past 25 years, the company had won numerous awards for staff training.

She said: “The safety of our staff is paramount. The largest number and most frequent type of accidents are caused by slips and trips, so we fit safety flooring to our kitchen and service areas, backed up by non-slip matt tiles in parts of our preparation areas.”

Training can help employees avoid discomfort and pain – and lost earnings.

Businesses can benefit from reduced sick payments, fewer staff shortages and lower insurance premiums owing to the smaller risk factor.

The HSE has a free interactive training package at www.hse.gov.uk/slips/step/index.htm.