It has been announced that the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) Shattered Lives - Ladder Exchange Initiative 2009 will run from 1 September until 31 December 2009.
The initiative is relatively simple. If you have a ladder which is bent, broken or battered you can part exchange it for a new one at any of the HSE partner outlets, who are also offering discounts on the sales of all ladders at very competitive rates. It also provides dutyholders with an opportunity to review pre-use checks, training, supervision and other arrangements for ladder work.
Over the last two years, the HSE has worked alongside local authorities, and several partner outlets, to remove over 5,500 "dodgy" ladders from the workplace. As a result of these successes, Ladder Exchange will now be an annual initiative.
During 2007/08, 58 workers died and 3623 suffered a serious injury as a result of a fall from height, Ladders remain the most common agent involved and account for more than a quarter of all reported falls from height incidents.
For further information on the initiative, visit www.hse.gov.uk/falls/ladderexchange.htm.
