Did anyone else see BBC1's The One Show yesterday? It's not my favourite cup of tea but I thought it was important to congratulate the BBC for sparing 5 minutes of their flagship programme to highlight the importance of ladder safety and raising awareness of the HSE's ladder exchange. I have attached the link in my blog at http://goodtogosafety.bl...y-hits-primetime-tv.html which will hopefully prove acceptable.

I didn't see The One Show but I saw Watchdog later on. This show watched some comically bad roofing contractors attempting to rip people off but also showed exactly why you should have your ladder at the correct angle and preferably footed. The young lad in question very nearly came a cropper.

How often does H&S get the slighest sniff of a comment during the 7-7.30pm timeslot? Personally I'm of the opinion that there is no such thing as 'bad advertsing'. The show gets between 4-5million viewers, surely it's a positive step in raising awareness. Granted it wasn't rocket science and certainly wouldn't be used for training purposes but I thought it was a rare glimpse of positive press (tongue in cheek or not).

Safety Amateur; I'm intrigued by your Marillion reference -did you have a track in mind? Or perhaps I'm 'Clutching at Straws' as a result of a 'Misplaced Childhood'. Or maybe i'm losing my 'Marbles'!

I'm sure I heard the one of them , maybe the safety fellow, say the ladder angle should be 70 degrees. Eh, I've always said 1:4 which is near 75 degrees. 70 degrees is liable to slip down easily

Ron, I've sent you totally in the wrong direction. I was using Marillion in a purely 'throwaway-mickey-take' context. My dislike of twee prog knows no limits. I recently foretold the dangerous rise of Marillion fans on another thread - and here you are. I outed you marvellously. Still, not your fault. You people were probably frighted by a proper rock band as children. Back to the thread: I'm coming to the conclusion that the only sensible way our profession and its purpose can be broadcast is in the context of a disaster. The way these TV people put together and deconstruct disasters, be it manmade (BP etc.) or Act of God (floods etc.), really is very good. Unfortunately, the 'H&S' character seems always to the be the 'told you so' person that was ignored. Wonderful typecasting.

I'm not ashamed to be outed as an admirer of the Prog Rock genre. Then again my taste is quite eclectic and I'm equally at home with AC/DC, Humble Pie or Hendrix. I am reminded though that there is a Yes album called...........The Ladder! Back to the thread - this guy (on TV) isn't doing H&S any favours.

Not sure where they sourced the info from, Rich but in their training course, The Ladder Association quote an angle of 1:4 AND between 65 - 75%

Not forgetting Bruce Springsteen's recent folk album when he covered 'Jacob's ladder' would have made a great backing track

A veritable holy trinity, Ron. But with your penchant for teetering on the Prog abyss it suggests a complex and troubled character that endures internal conflict over good and evil. Move towards the light, Ron. H&S content: I suppose we should look positively on the situation, in that the genuine H&S TV presentation is yet to be made and we should continue to criticise where standards aren't met and opportunities missed.