Switching on to digital TV safety

SAFETY first... Steve Turner, principal environmental health officer for Oldham (right) with Karl Rainford who demonstrates how to safely install an aerial

A SAFETY campaign has been launched to protect aerial installers from injuring themselves when the digital switchover goes live on November 4.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has teamed up with local authorities to highlight the increased dangers as thousands of homes switch from the old analogue signal to the replacement digital signal.

More than 130 health and safety inspectors, including 51 in Greater Manchester, will do spot checks to make sure work is done safely

The danger comes about not because installing equipment for a digital signal is any more difficult than for the old signal, but simply because of the volume of new installations that will need to take place, which could lead to the work being done too quickly and without proper precautions.

A multi-million-pound advertising campaign has been running to make North-West householders aware that, without fitting digital receivers — and in some cases new aerials — they will lose their TV reception.

John Pride, HSE Project Manager for the North-West, said: “It is essential that aerial fitters and satellite dish installers are totally switched on to safety during this busy switchover period.

“Working at height is very dangerous: companies must ensure that safe work systems are in place.”

Thousands of workers are killed or seriously injured in the UK every year while carrying out work at height — there were four deaths and over 300 serious injuries in Greater Manchester alone in 2007-08.


Age Concern signals the way

ELDERLY Oldhamers have been invited to find out more about the digital switchover so they aren’t without TV when the analogue signal is turned off.

Yvonne Lee, Age Concern’s chief executive, said: “We want to make sure that people get the right information and support during the switchover to digital television.

“Television is a lifeline for many older people and we don’t want anyone to be left without television when the big switchover takes place.

“Neither do we want anyone to be worried or unsure about the process.”

Drop-in information sessions will be held at the following venues (all between 10am and 2pm):

Monday, September 21 — Age Concern Insurance, Lord Street.

Tuesday, September 22 — More Mobile, George Street.

Wednesday, September 23 — Tommyfield Market.

Thursday, September 24 — Age Concern, Church Lane.

Friday, September 25 — Clock Café, Ellesmere Street, Failsworth.

Monday, September 28 — Uppermill Civic Hall, Lee Street.

For more information, call 0161-633 0213.