HSE Encourages Businesses to Join Ladder Exchange Program
With HSE’s Ladder exchange Program is currently underway and is scheduled to close at the end of the year. The body has been involved in encouraging business owners to take part in the program. Run with the help of retailers, trade associations and manufacturers, the program allows business owners to have their ladders inspected and wherever required, trade them for new ones at subsidized rates.
According to the agency’s figures, over 900 ladders have been exchanged under the program so far.
Falls from heights are one of the largest reasons for workplace accidents in the UK, with 35 deaths and over 4,500 major injuries occurring due to this reason alone last year. HSE says that the use of the right equipment and correct safety precautions could prevent a significant number of these accidents from occurring. Over two million people are said to work with ladders every day in the
The Work at Height Regulations 2005, which have been in force since the 6th of April of that year, mandates that as far as possible, working at heights be avoided. The Regulations introduce a hierarchy of planning and risk assessment, should the need to work at heights arises.
The Regulations state that if working at heights cannot be avoided, duty holders should take steps to prevent a fall from occurring. If the duty holder is unable to prevent a fall, the he should try his best to reduce the distance and extent of the fall occurring, and thus reduce the possibility of a serious injury.
Under the current set of regulations, it is the employer’s responsibility to carry out regular maintenance and inspection of ladders to ensure they remain in usable condition. Working at Height training will benefit organisations in helping to minimise the risks of work at height and bring work procedures up to date with the requirements of new legislation.
