Falling less than 2 meters from a ladder can still result in a broken arm or leg, falling from a height over that can result in an injury considerably worse. Injuries that occur in the work place not only cause distress to the victim and their family but other members of staff can be affected and financial costs incurred.
There are a number of different causes that can lead to someone falling off a ladder including:
• An incorrect type of ladder being selected for the job
• Selecting a damaged ladder
• the leaning ladder slipping either at the top or bottom;
• the leaning ladder flipping over or coming away at the top
• the ladder's feet slipping
• the user overstretching
• the user slipping or loosing their footing
• The use of a ladder when a safer working platform should have been used
Employers are duty bound under the basic requirements of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act, 1974, The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations, the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations, and of course, the Work at Height Regulations. Whilst each piece of legislation has some individuality, each piece carries the need to 'inform, instruct and supervise'.
de Silva Safety Services, a leading health and safety consultancy in London, The Home Counties and the Thames Valley is able to offer a half-day training class in Ladder Safety. More information can be found at their website.
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