This year the Ladder Exchange Initiative will run from 1 September until 31 December 2009. If you have a ladder, which is bent, broken or battered you, can part exchange it for a new one at any one of our partner outlets who are offering discounts on the sales of all ladders at very competitive rates. It also provides duty holders with an opportunity to review pre-use checks, training, supervision and other arrangements for ladder work.
Over the last two years, HSE has worked collaboratively with Local Authorities, and several partner outlets, to remove over 5,500 ‘dodgy’ ladders from the workplace. Because of these successes, Ladder Exchange will now be an annual initiative.
During 2007/8 58 workers died and 3623 suffered a serious injury as a result of a fall from height. Ladders remain the most common agent involved accounting for approximately a third of all reported falls from height incidents. This is often because the ladder specified is inadequate for the job or the investigation identifies it has not been correctly maintained. It also the case that in many instances the operative is insufficiently trained to select or use the access product they are using.
These issues can be rectified with some straightforward training and a better understanding of the working at height regulations. Our website provides a number of documents to assist you in selecting and assessing your ladder and access stock. You are also able to find details of your nearest participating Ladder Exchange outlet who will give you a discount for ladders that you determine are not up to the standards required.
