'TRADE IN YOUR OLD LADDER'

Nigel Sherwood, who has climbed quite a few political rungs in recent months, has donned his North Lincolnshire Council Cabinet Member's hat to support a national safety initiative which allows businesses to swap their broken, bent and damaged ladders for new ones.
During the next few months, businesses will have the opportunity to have their ladders checked. If necessary they will be able to trade any broken ladders in for a new one at a discounted price.
Councillor Nigel (representing Brigg and Wolds), Cabinet Member for Highways and Neighbourhoods, said: “There is nothing wrong with using a ladder if it is in good order and right for the job. However, you could be gambling with your life by using a dodgy one. Too many people suffer life-changing injuries or die each year because they used a faulty ladder.
“This initiative is open to anyone who wants to trade their broken, bent or damaged ladder for a new one at any of the schemes partner outlets at a discounted price.
“We continue to work with HSE, retailers, employers and workers to address the safety issues around all access equipment for working at a height.”
Anyone working at a height should use the right ladder for the job. The Ladder Exchange initiative provides an ideal opportunity for businesses to assess the risks involved in using ladders and to adopt sensible health and safety measures.
The council have taken part in the initiative since 2007. The 2011 Ladder Exchange is supported by Health and Safety Executive (HSE) that aim to reduce death and injury.
The initiative will run until November 30.
Falls from a height continue to be the main cause of fatalities at work. In 2009/10, there was one fatality and 19 major injuries to workers in the Humberside region, involving a ladder. Nationally, in 2009/10, ladders were involved in over 10 per cent of all falls from a height.
The common preventable causes of ladder injuries include, the user over reaching and falling or slipping and the use of ladders that are in a poor condition. Some falls involving ladders are also caused when the equipment is in poor condition.
People should always check a ladder before using it and remember not to use it if:
· It is bent, split, damaged or the fixings are loose - the ladder could
collapse.
· The feet are missing, worn or damaged - the ladder could slip.
· The rungs are bent; missing or loose - the ladder could become unstable.
· The locking bars are bent or the fixings are worn or damaged - the ladder could collapse.
The initiative is open to anyone and will run at local and national participating retailers. Full details, along with advice and guidance on using ladders safely, are available on HSE’s website http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls/ladderexchange.htm
Chris Ball, chairman of the Ladder Association, says: “The Ladder Association remains fully committed to this excellent initiative that not only helps remove unsafe ladders from the workplace, but focuses attention on the need to use the right ladder, to inspect it regularly and to make sure the person using it is trained and competent.”