HSE LADDER EXCHANGE 2009 

1 September 2009

to 

31 December 2009 

Committed to advancing safety and best practice, the Ladder Association works closely with the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and enthusiastically supports the 2009 Ladder Exchange designed to remove ‘dodgy’ ladders from the workplace. 

Under the scheme, anyone with a ladder that is broken, damaged or bent can part-exchange it for a safe, new one. Since its launch in 2007 and subsequent re-run in 2008, the initiative has had notable success in removing thousands of ‘dodgy’ ladders from Britain’s workplaces, thus raising awareness of safe ladder use.  

It has also provided HSE with the opportunity to address the long-standing myth that HSE have banned ladders. ‘If it’s right to use a ladder, use the right ladder and get trained to use it safely’, is the message from both the Ladder Association and HSE.  

The following members of the Ladder Association are actively supporting the 2009 Ladder Exchange initiative. You should contact them direct if you wish to exchange a ‘dodgy’ ladder. 

In alphabetical order they are: 

-          Abru Ltd     

-     Ashtead Plant Hire Ltd                                

-          Clow Group Ltd                        

-           -     Globe Ladders Ltd  

-                      -           HSS Hire                                   

-          Ladderstore                              

-          LFI Ltd                                       

-          Youngman Group Ltd 

     More names are being added all the time, so please check back for an update. 

During 2007/08 58 workers died and 3623 suffered a serious injury as a result of a fall from height. Ladders were the most common agent involved accounting for approximately a third of all reported falls from height incidents. 

The 2009 Ladder Exchange is intended to help reduce these statistics. Comments Peter Brown, HSE Head of Work Environment, Radiation and Gas Division: "We want anyone working at height to use the right ladder for the job and to use it safely. Ladder Exchange is the perfect opportunity for businesses to assess the risks involved in using ladders and to adopt sensible health and safety measures."