Working at heights remains one of the biggest causes of death and serious injuries, with the highest number of fall accidents occurring in the food sector, construction sector, and agriculture (HSE).

The basic steps of ladder safety

Almost everyone can use ladders at home or in the workplace, but for such common equipment, why do they pose such a big risk? 

In fact, if used properly, ladders are not particularly dangerous, but HSE estimates that they cause nearly 40% of fall surveys from heights. In 2019/20, of the 111 workers killed in the workplace, 29 fell from heights and died. In addition, falls from heights account for more than 5,000 non-fatal work injuries, often causing catastrophic and life-altering injuries to victims.

In 2020, a company in Scotland was sued for an employee who fell 2 million from a ladder and injured his elbow. The HSE investigation found that the company failed to ensure that high-altitude operations were properly planned and managed, nor did it ensure that the equipment provided was regularly inspected and suitable for use. The fines and fees incurred totaled £125,000. This is not an isolated case. However, if the correct safety measures are applied correctly, many fall accidents can be avoided.

The purpose of the 2005 Work at Height Regulations is to prevent death and injury caused by falling from height. In the eyes of the law, height is considered anything higher than the ground. In fact, most injuries are caused by falls below two meters.

When it comes to ladders, it is generally believed that ladders are prohibited under the Health and Safety Law. HSE is very clear that in some cases, if the risk is assessed and properly managed, the ladder may be a wise and practical choice for low-risk, short-term tasks. It is recommended to treat short-duration tasks as tasks that last 30 minutes or less

Therefore, the law stipulates that you can use a ladder when your risk assessment shows that the replacement equipment is unreasonable (or not commensurate) with the task at hand. However, the duration of the task is not the only deciding factor. The position and fixing of the ladder should also be considered. Also, don't let everyone know how to use the ladder correctly as your failure. Remind employees of the dangers of overstretching or using ladders next to heavy equipment, and provide training where appropriate.

Checking the ladder for defects is the next step in identifying and preventing any risks that may occur. Audits and visual inspections should be carried out regularly by qualified personnel in accordance with the specific guidelines outlined in the manufacturer's instruction manual. The pre-use inspection can also be used with or as part of your standard inspection process. This HSE Guide details the pre-use checklist, which they recommend to complete every working day or at the beginning of a new task. 

Ladder tags are an important accessory in the inspection process, especially in busy work spaces with multiple pieces of equipment. They are very eye-catching and easy to connect to the ladder to clearly indicate to potential users whether the ladder is safe to use, the time of the last inspection, and the time of the next inspection. Ladder tags are very useful for employers to prove a strong ladder safety process.

It can be said with certainty that the use of scaffolding is completely different from the work more than half a century ago. In the years prior to the enactment of the Health and Safety Law, unskilled workers were almost ignored in construction. There is no security system, no training, no policy, and no personal protective equipment. Most of the built environment we still have today is caused by flat hats rather than hard hats and steel nerves.

Despite considerable innovations in safety, working at heights is still a dangerous activity and remains the leading cause of death in the workplace. According to HSE, of the 111 workers killed in the workplace in 2019/20, 29 fell from heights and died. Although the National Association of Channels and Scaffolding (NASC) announced a record low in the number of scaffolding-related accidents in 2020, the organization cited its members’ commitment to implement the highest safety standards as the reason for the downward trend. Therefore, all scaffolding companies have a responsibility to follow suit.

The purpose of the 2005 Work at Height Regulations is to prevent death and injury caused by falling from height. According to HSE, “The requirements of the 2005 High Altitude Operation Regulations are that unless scaffolding is assembled in accordance with recognized standards, such as NASC Technical Guide TG20 Pipe and Fitting Scaffolding or similar guidelines from system scaffolding manufacturers, the scaffolding should be customized by qualified personnel. Calculate the design to ensure that it has sufficient strength, rigidity and stability during erection, use and disassembly."

From a legal point of view, it is clear that planning and design play a vital role in the process of scaffolding safety. The scaffolding contractor needs some basic information from the user to get started. From the details of the site location to the expected duration, intended use and access requirements, just to name a few. The scaffolding contractor will then be able to provide feedback on safety factors, such as whether the advanced rail protection system is suitable for its specific design, or whether the user needs a seat belt. For more information on scaffolding design, please refer to the HSE Scaffolding Checklist.

HSE recommends “inspect the scaffold before the first use, and then every 7 days until it is removed. It should also be inspected every time it is exposed to conditions that may cause deterioration, such as in adverse weather conditions or After major changes have occurred". It is essential that the inspection should be carried out by a "capable person". This means that someone has knowledge, ability, and understanding of the type of scaffold they are inspecting, and/or may have received specific training.

The inspection should be followed up with a report to record any deficiencies or problems that may pose a health and safety risk, and record any corrective actions taken, even if they are taken immediately, as this will help identify any recurring problems.

The scaffold tag is an important accessory of the scaffold inspection kit. They provide users with additional visual assurance that the scaffolding has been recently inspected and is safe to use.

For more information, please visit https://spectrum-industrial.co.uk/