About the Ladder Association
Founded in 1947, the Ladder Association is the not-for-profit lead industry body dedicated to promoting the safe use of portable ladders.
Members include manufacturers, rental companies, training providers and ladder users.
Find out more about our Executive, Council and Committee members.
Our Mission
Ladders are an everyday tool in homes and workplaces across the world, allowing millions of people to work at height quickly and easily. They’re a versatile and vital piece of equipment, that can be used for a whole range of jobs. But too many people still fall from ladders. The consequences of these falls can be life-changing, for both the injured party and their families.
The Ladder Association wants everyone who climbs a ladder to come back down safely.
Safety First
Membership of the Ladder Association shows clear commitment to adhere to the Ladder Association Code of Practice which puts safety at the heart of everything members do:
• Ladder Association Manufacturers only make ladders that comply with EN 131 (or international equivalents) and those products must be certified by a third-party Conformity Assessment Body and be subject to ongoing surveillance;
• Ladder Association Suppliers only supply ladders that are certified to EN 131 (or international equivalents);
• Ladder Association Training Providers conduct training in approved centres, using Ladder Association trained instructors, and only use equipment that complies to EN 131.
For further information on becoming a Ladder Association member, click here.
Industry Engagement
The Ladder Association works closely with a number of organisations to support codes of good practice, minimum standards for equipment, trained and qualified operatives and education in the work at height sector. These include the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), the British Standards Institution (BSI) and other National Standards Bodies, the Access Industry Forum (AIF) and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).
The Ladder Association has spearheaded a number of hugely successful ladder safety campaigns, including our award-winning ‘Get a Grip’ initiative, which promoted a very clear message “If it’s right to use a ladder, use the right ladder and get trained to use it safely.”
Ladder Safety Training
The Ladder Association currently offers five training courses delivered through a network of audited and approved training centres:
• Ladder & Stepladder User;
• Ladder & Stepladder Inspection;
• Ladder & Stepladder Combined Use and Inspection;
• Steps & Step Stools for Users;
• Ladders for Managers.
In addition to administering the LadderCard training scheme, the Ladder Association publishes safety guidance, Code of Practice and technical notes – all free to download – see our Guidance pages.
