Ladder Exchange 2008 

Last year falls from height resulted in 45 deaths and caused 3,750 serious injuries.  On average 13 people die each year following a fall from a ladder and in addition there are 1,200 serious injuries. Whilst failures to foot or secure the ladder or using the wrong type of ladder are common a significant number of ladder accidents involve the failure of a defective or damaged ladder.  

The Health and Safety Executive is repeating the Ladder Exchange programme following the success of the first exercise.  The Ladder Exchange programme focuses on smaller firms and involves Enforcement Officers from Local Authorities.  The Inspectors will visit employers and seek to identify ladders that are damaged or in poor condition and unsafe, encouraging the employer to scrap the ladder.  Major national firms such as Speedy Hire, SBG and HSS are supporting this initiative by offering to replace damaged or condemned ladders with new ones at a discounted price.

Further information can be obtained from the HSE website:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls/ladderexchange.htm?ebul=hsegen/11-aug-2008&cr=5