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Are Your Ladders Safe? - Take Part in a Ladder Exchange
 Thousands
of small businesses use ladders, whether as
part of their work, or simply to get things
from high places (e.g.: in a warehouse)!
However, nearly
100 people fall off a ladder at work each
month, 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
website here:
Ladder Exchange - HSE
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