Ladder exchange proves positive step

18 March 2010

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) reports that nearly 7,000 unsafe ladders have been surrendered in the three years in which it has been running its ladder exchange initiative. Hire companies have been amongst the organisations that 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 2008/09, 35 workers died and over 4,000 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.

Geoffrey Podger, HSE Chief Executive, said: “The ladder exchange has proved a real success. We have exchanged nearly 7,000 old ladders for new ones over the last three years and we are hoping to trade in even more when the initiative returns later this year.” Advice and educational aids regarding safe work at height are available at www.hse.gov.uk/shatteredlives.  

Chris Ball, Chairman of the Ladder Association, added: “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.”

The April/May issue of Executive Hire News will include a dedicated Market Report on Low-Level Access.

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