Risk news

A tried and trusted piece of workplace equipment – it is estimated that some two million ladders are in daily use throughout the UK.

But unsafe ladders are a big problem - a leading cause of falls from height in the workplace.

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), a third of all reported fall-from-height incidents involve ladders and stepladders.

On average this accounts for 14 deaths and 1,200 major injuries to workers each year.

For many companies the use of ladders is a key and regular part of their operations, making safe working essential.
But with some firms continuing to use faulty or damaged ladders, their staff are being put at risk.

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.

To combat the problem, the HSE, the UK regulator for health and safety, set up its Ladder Exchange (LE) initiative in 2007.

What is it?

The scheme is designed to be a simple way for companies to replace broken, damaged or bent ladders and trade them in for safe new ones.

It is part of Shattered Lives, a wider HSE campaign to help reduce slips, trips and falls from height in the workplace.

Under LE, HSE teams up with a number of businesses who each offer ladders at a discounted price.

Last year, the initiative was run over a three-month period, from September 1st to November 30th.

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.

Has it worked?

The HSE says since LE's introduction more than 8,000 dodgy ladders have been removed from the workplace as a direct result of the initiative.

"The ladder exchange has proved a real success," said Geoffrey Podger, HSE chief executive.

"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."

2012 changes to the scheme

Last year, the HSE announced it would have no further direct involvement in the delivery of the programme as of 2012.

This year sees responsibility for running and developing LE transfer from the regulator to the Ladder Association.

According to its website, the association is to make an announcement in the trade press about the future format of the initiative.

"Over two million people work on ladders daily in the UK and we want all of those workers to work safely," said Chris Ball, the association's chairman.

Action points

Many of the injuries suffered by workers are caused by inappropriate or incorrect use of equipment.

The first question to ask is whether the ladder is right for the job – could the job be done without?

If it is, ensure the ladder is safe to use.

Conduct a risk assessment of the work.

If the ladder is faulty, exchange it.

See Aviva's hardfacts sheet on safe use of ladders.