The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has published new free guides to help raise awareness of the risks associated with ladder use and to give advice on how to use ladders safely. The guides are aimed at all users of ladders and their employers, and have been published as part of HSE's campaign to reduce falls from height.
Last year 13 people died from falls while working on a ladder, and more than 1,200 people suffered major injuries. HSE's guidance builds on the Work at Height Regulations 2005 which came into force on 6th April 05.
The guidance includes:
- 'Safe Use of Ladders & Stepladders - an employers' guide'
- a a toolbox talk on leaning ladder and stepladder safety - for employers, providing refresher training to ladder users
- top tips for ladder and stepladder safety - a pocket card for workers, providing key messages on ladder use
Commenting on the new guides, Dr Elizabeth Gibby, Director of the Injuries Reduction Programme at HSE, said: "Falls from ladder cause death and major injury - nearly a third of major injuries from falls from height each year are caused by falls from ladders. Falls from ladders also result in considerable trauma for the people injured, their colleagues, family and friends, and considerable costs for employers. These falls are preventable if people plan work properly, assess the risks and choose the right work equipment when working at height. The new guide, toolbox talk and pocket card will help managers and workers to sensibly manage the risks associated with ladder use.
"Ladders should only be used for low-risk, short duration work. If a ladder is the right equipment to use, it shold be in good condition, prevented from slipping and used by competent people. There should always be a handhold available".
To download 'Safe Use of Ladders & Stepladders: an employers' guide' - please visit: www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg402.pdf
To download the toolbox talk on learning ladder and stepladder safety, please visit: www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg403.pdf
To download the pocket card for workers, please visit: www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg405.pdf
The guidance is also available as hard copy documents (numbers INDG 402, 403 and 405) from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2WA Tel: 01787 881165
LADDERS WEEK
The above guides are published alongside an announcement by the HSE that Ladders Week will be taking place between 14th - 18th November 05. The national initiative includes a week of events when HSE inspectors will work with ladder users and their employers, look at the current use of ladder and will suggest sensible measures to improve safety.
Ian Greenwood, HSE Falls from Height Team Leader, said: "With a little more planning and assessment of the risks, understanding of the limitations of ladders, proper maintenance and checking that users are competent, many of these accidents could be avoided. A major injury such as a broken bone or fractured skull can often be a life-changing event for the person concerned and their family. Quite apart from the personal suffering, an injury of this sort can adversely affect earning power and job prospects for a long time after the accident".
During Ladders Week each HSE local office is organising its own events, many in partnership with trade associations, local employers and equipment hire companies. These events include Safety & Health Awareness Days, practical demonstrations of alternative equipment to ladders and breakfast meetings with employers and health & safety professionals.
For further information on working from height please visit the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) website at: www.hse.gov.uk/falls
Further information on the events taking place during Ladders Week will be published on the HSE website during November at: www.hse.gov.uk