E020:07 5 June 2007
HSE to remove 4000 'dodgy' ladders through a 'ladder exchange'
Every month nearly 100 people fall off a ladder at work and suffer serious injuries costing the economy £60 million each year. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will promote ladder safety messages through a 'ladder exchange' which aims to remove 4000 'dodgy' ladders from workplaces in Great Britain.
Over the next 12 weeks, small businesses will get the chance to get their ladders checked and where necessary, trade them in for new ones at a discounted price. HSE is working in close association with Local Authorities, ladder manufacturers and retailers to address the safety issues around access equipment with employers and ladder users.
Dr Elizabeth Gibby, HSE's Head of Injuries Reduction Programme said "We want anyone working at height to use the right ladder for the job and to use it safely. Ladder Exchange is 'the' opportunity for small trade businesses to assess the risks involved in ladder use and adopt sensible health and safety measures."
"In 2005/06 a total of 46 workers died and a further 3351 employees suffered major injuries as a result of a fall from height in the workplace. There is still a lot of poor standard equipment out there and we will do everything it takes to educate people and get rid of 'dodgy' ladders from workplaces. Simple precautions can save lives and help prevent injuries."
When it comes to increasing ladder safety, always ask yourself three simple questions:
- Do you need a ladder or should you use something different?
- Is it the right ladder?
- Are you using the ladder safely?
More information can be obtained on the HSE 'Ladder exchange' website.
HSE has received industry wide support to tackle this issue. The Ladder Association (LA) together with companies such as HSS Hire, SGB Taskmaster, Speedy Hire and Ladderstore.com are all promoting HSE's message around ladder safety.
Note to editors
- The aim of Ladder Exchange is to increase general awareness of the risks involved in ladder use and promote sensible health and safety.
- Information about events during Ladder Exchange and contact details for more information will be available on the HSE website. Alternatively, information is available from local HSE offices whose contact details are on the HSE website.
- Full information, advice and events listings can be found at www.hse.gov/falls were you can also subscribe for all the latest news and updates.
- The Work at Height Regulations 2005 came into force on 6 April 2005. The Regulations introduce a hierarchy for use when planning and risk assessing work at height. Duty holders should consider how to avoid work at height. If this is not possible, they should take steps to prevent a fall occurring. Where they cannot prevent a fall, they should take steps to minimise the distance and consequences of a fall.
- A ladder should only be used where a risk assessment demonstrates that the task is low risk and of short duration, or where there are existing features on site that cannot be altered and the use of other equipment is not practical. Such features include restricted space preventing other equipment from being put in place correctly or ground conditions that mean that there is no suitable area to set up alternative equipment.
- HSE has published a brief guide to the Work at Height Regulations 2005 at www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg401.pdf
- HSE has published the following guidance specifically for employers and workers who use ladders:
Safe use of ladder and stepladders - an employers guide at www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg402.pdf
Top tips for ladder safety at www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg405.pdf
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