E110:05 12 September 2005

Ladders are not banned – but they should be used sensibly

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) spoke on BBC’s Newsnight programme last Friday (9 September) to dispel the myth that window cleaners can no longer use ladders because they are banned by the Work at Height Regulations (WAHR). Sensible risk management is the key to securing compliance with health and safety regulations, including the WAHR.

Since the introduction of the WAHR there have been rumours in various industry sectors claiming that ladders are “illegal” or “banned by HSE”. The Newsnight piece gave HSE an opportunity to set the record straight for window cleaners.

Ian Greenwood, head of HSE’s Falls from Height Programme, said: “HSE champions sensible health and safety. These Regulations do not ban ladders but say they should be used only when all other safer alternatives for work at height have been ruled out. A risk assessment must show that the task is low risk and of short duration, or that there are site features that mean other equipment is not appropriate. If so, then ladders can be used.”

Falls from ladders resulted in 14 deaths at work last year. Every year falls at work cause some 4,000 major injuries (ranging from fractures to hospitalisations). Nearly a third (over 1,000) of these major injuries follow falls from ladders. HSE is planning a number of initiatives this year to promote safe, sensible ladder use, including the launch of a new guide, “Safe Use of Ladders and Stepladders”, in the autumn.

Notes to Editors

• There were 53 deaths from falls at work in Great Britain last year. Many of those who died would still be alive today if sensible measures had been taken.

• On average two window cleaners die each year following falls from ladders and many more suffer major injury.

• Alternatives to using ladders to clean windows include: cleaning from the inside; using mobile elevated working platforms; using water-fed pole systems.

• The Work at Height Regulations 2005 came into force on 6 April this year. They set out a simple hierarchy for managing and selecting work equipment for work at height. Duty holders must:
• avoid work at height where they can;
• use work equipment or other measurers to prevent falls where they cannot avoid work at height; and
• where they cannot eliminate the risk of a fall, use work equipment or other measures to minimise the distance and consequences of a fall should one occur.

• HSE has published a brief guide to the Regulations on the HSE website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg401.pdf [77kb] .

• There is more information on falls from height on HSE’s website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls/ Case studies of falls from ladders are available at http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls/experience/ladders.htm

Public Enquiries : HSE InfoLine, tel: 0845 345 0055, visit: www.hse.gov.uk/contact or write to: HSE InfoLine, Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG.

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