THE Ladder Association has welcomed the decision by the Health & Safety Executive not to change the Work at Height Regulations following HSE’s completion of the review recommended by Professor Ragnar Lofstedt.
In particular, the Association has welcomed the introduction of the HSE’s revised and simplified guidance.
The new guidance, developed in conjunction with the Ladder Association and other principal stakeholders, is unambiguous. It makes clear, subject to risk assessment, that ladders remain a sensible and practical option in the workplace – and that if it’s right to use a ladder, to use the right ladder and to use it safely.
Ladder Association chairman Cameron Clow said, “Ladders are a versatile and invaluable piece of workplace equipment but, like all other forms of access equipment, there are some common sense rules for using them safely. It’s all about sensible and proportionate management of the risks. Fortunately, we now have some straightforward guidance from the HSE that reinforces this message and provides advice on the often simple, but sensible, precautions that those using ladders should take to keep safe and avoid falls from height. More often than not, these falls are caused by inappropriate or incorrect use, which is why the Ladder Association manages and delivers a national training scheme for users, supervisors and managers wanting to equip themselves with the knowledge, skills and confidence necessary to use ladders safely and productively.”
