Ladder exchange success is a step in the right direction

Date:

11 March 2010

Nearly 7000 'dodgy' ladders have been surrendered in the three years the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has been running the ladder exchange initiative.

HSE is now thanking all the retailers, manufacturers, trade associations and local authorities who have played their part in the campaign which gives workers the opportunity to get rid of old, damaged and broken ladders and trade them in for new ones at a discounted price.

In the most recent campaign, HSE's partners were inundated with a variety of precarious ladders with missing rungs, bent sides and ladders that are clearly not up to the job anymore.

In 2008/09 a total of 35 workers died and over 4000 employees suffered major injury as a result of a fall from height in the workplace. Many of these incidents could be avoided by using the right equipment and taking simple precautions.

HSE is working with industry to ensure that anyone involved in working at height uses the right equipment for the job and uses it safely. Throughout the campaign HSE and local authority inspectors include ladder checks as part of their routine inspections and encourage people with faulty or damaged ladders to exchange them for new ones.

Geoffrey Podger, HSE Chief Executive personally thanked all those involved at an event at HSE's HQ in Bootle and said:

"The ladder exchange has proved a real success. We have exchanged nearly 7000 old ladders for new ones over the last three years and we are hoping to trade even more when the ladder exchange initiative returns later this year.

"If you take a chance with 'dodgy' ladders you are risking your life. Every month more than 100 people fall off a ladder at work and suffer serious injuries. So many of these accidents are avoidable and having safe equipment makes a huge difference."

Falls from ladders account for over a quarter of all fall accidents in this country and this is sometimes down to misuse but often due to ladders not being fit for purpose.

Craig Phillips, celebrity builder and winner of TV's Big Brother launched the third phase of the campaign in September, he said:

"It is brilliant to have been involved in promoting such a worthwhile initiative to help reduce ladder accidents. From working in the building industry for over 20 years, I know how important it is to have safe and suitable equipment at all times on building sites."

Chris Ball, Chairman of the Ladder Association said:

"Over two million people work on ladders daily in the UK and we want all of those workers to work safely. We enthusiastically support the Ladder Exchange because it's an initiative, alongside training, that can really make a difference."

If you need to work at height you need to;-

• Know when is it safe to use a ladder
• Decide how to select the right sort of ladder for the particular job
• Know how to maintain and look after it
• Understand how to use it

The ladder exchange is part of 'shattered lives' a wider campaign to help reduce slips, trips and falls from height in the workplace.

Businesses and organisations can get advice on how they can help prevent slips, trips and falls from height through the simple e-learning tools available at www.hse.gov.uk/shatteredlives

Notes to editors

1. The aim of Ladder Exchange is to increase general awareness of the risks involved in ladder use, to get workers to take action by exchanging 'dodgy' ladders for safe new ones, and to promote sensible health and safety.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. HSE has published a brief guide to the Work at Height Regulations 2005 at www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg401.htm
5. 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
6. Ladder Exchange partners are as follows: ABRU, A-Plant, Browns Ladders and ceilings, Clow Group, Globe Ladders Ltd, HSS Hire, The Ladder Association, LadderStore.com, Ladder & Fencing Industries (Newent) Ltd, Lansford Access Ltd, SGB, Slingsby, Speedy Hire, TB Davies, Youngman Group, Zarges UK
7. HSE runs the campaign in partnership with Local Authorities

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