STEEL erector Frank Clarke is lucky to be alive after a horrific industrial accident.

But Frank, 49, now has a new lease of life - training others how to avoid accidents at work.

Frank `died' twice in the ambulance on the way to hospital after he slipped off a ladder on a building site in 2004.

He suffered fractures to his hip, thigh and wrist, was unable to walk for nine months and thought he might never work again.

The father of two, who lives in Heywood, had been a steel erector for 28 years until his career was finished by the accident.

Frank said: "Being given this chance has meant the difference between potentially spending the last 15 years of my working life on benefits and getting back on my feet.

"I had always earned good money as a steel erector, travelling all over the world, so to suddenly have that taken away was a massive shock - and it makes you realise how precious life is."

After the accident Frank suffered complications surrounding his hip repair, which resulted in him needing a hip replacement, and his wife Yvonne gave up her job working in a pub to care for him full-time. Frank said: "I had to learn to walk again, and going through something like that really brings it home how serious an accident at work can be.

"Now I use my experience when I am training workers who might think it will never happen to them."

Frank has now begun working as a health and safety trainer for TASC (Training Assessment Safety Consultants) at Birch Industrial Estate, Heywood.

He travels nationwide, training workers in industries such as construction in matters including working at height - being all too aware of the dangers himself.

He said: "Health and safety is now a full-time hobby for me, as well as an occupation. If I see any of my neighbours doing something unsafe, I feel duty bound to tell them - they probably think I am a bit of a nuisance!"

Frank retrained by putting himself through the qualifications needed at Bolton University, where he also met Steve Everett, who is now the safety, health, environment and quality manager at TASC.

When Michael Bamford, managing director of TASC, heard Frank's story through Steve, he was impressed by his determination.

Michael said: "Frank's resolve and personal experience of having an accident at work make him an excellent trainer, and we are only too pleased that in turn, coming to work for TASC has enabled him to get back on his feet."

TASC offers a wide range of NVQ qualifications and a health and safety consultancy service. Tweet