Avoiding accidents with ladders

Over 1000 work injuries each year in the UK are caused by ladder accidents, and these lead to an average of 13 deaths. This makes accidents with ladders roughly as frequent as scaffolding accidents, and should therefore not be lightly dismissed. Read more about scaffolding-related injuries.

Since April 2005, the Work at Height Regulations have covered the usage of ladders and scaffolding. This means that workers who need to use ladders should be trained before they do so in methods of avoiding a fall from height by their employers.

Training to avoid ladder accidents
There are several main points that workers should be trained in, which include the following.

Before the first step is taken on to the ladder, it is necessary to check it is fit for use, with no dents or buckling and with feet and fixing brackets in place.

Checks should also be made for water, oil or paint that could cause slippage, both on the ladders and on the surface that the ladder will stand on.

Workers should also be made aware of the importance of keeping safe on a ladder by not using the top rungs, not leaning too far to the side of a ladder, and never having both a hand and a foot off the rungs at the same time.

The Health and Safety Executive also recommend that ladders are only used for low-risk jobs of short duration.

Making a no win, no fee claim for ladder accident compensation
While ladder accidents may be avoidable, this does not mean they are always avoided. If you have had a ladder-related fall at work, especially where either the equipment or your training was not fit for the task, you may be eligible to make a no win, no fee personal injury claim.

Here at YouClaim, we can match your claim with a personal injury solicitor with expertise in workplace injuries. There will be no fee charged by us at any time, whether your claim is successful or not.

To discover if you could make a personal injury compensation claim for your ladder accident, you can contact us today, by calling on 0800 10 757 95, by requesting a call back from our advisors or use our online e-chat service now.