ENVIRONMENTAL health officers are to work with the Health and Safety Executive as part of a campaign to tackle the biggest cause of death in the workplace.

Falls from height killed 53 people nationwide and left 3,800 seriously injured during 2004-5 - an average of one person killed or seriously hurt every week.

Wirral's divisional health officer, Elizabeth O'Toole, said: "It is vital we tackle the issue of working safely at height; many of these accidents are avoidable and through promoting awareness of safer working practices we hope to safeguard against these incidents in the future."

A special road show in connection with the campaign is being held this week at Wirral Metropolitan College's Twelve Quays Campus and at home improvement superstores across Wirral.

Elizabeth O'Toole said: "We advise anyone who works with ladders or at a height to get along to one of the road shows - it could literally save lives."

Environmental health officers will also be visiting businesses across the borough to raise awareness of safety precautions while working at height.

Wirral Council took part in a ladder safety week last year, when 178 ladders were inspected. Almost 50 prohibition notices were served following the inspections to prevent the ladders being used again.

Three were destroyed by their owners before notices could be served.