Small businesses are to get cheap ladders through the Health and Safety Executive’s new ladder exchange scheme.

The HSE aims to promote ladder safety messages through the exchange, which aims to remove 4000 ‘dodgy’ ladders from UK workplaces.

Over the next 12 weeks, small firms will get the chance to have their ladders checked and, where necessary, trade them in for new ones at a discounted price.

HSE is working in close association with local authorities, ladder manufacturers and retailers.

Dr Elizabeth Gibby, HSE’s head of injuries reduction programme said: “We want anyone working at height to use the right ladder for the job and to use it safely. Ladder Exchange is the opportunity for small trade businesses to assess the risks involved in ladder use and adopt sensible health and safety measures.”

Every month, nearly 100 people fall off ladders at work and suffer serious injuries.

Source

Electrical and Mechanical Contractor