Health and Safety Executive Launches Ladder Exchange to Cut Accidents at Work

New initiative to swap old work equipment for new

In a bid to reduce the number of serious accidents in the workplace, the Health and Safety Executive is launching a Ladder Exchange initiative designed to get businesses and tradesmen to trade in their old and damaged ladders for new ones. The initiative forms part of the wider Shattered Lives campaign which targets all areas of workplace safety, not just injuries caused by ladders.

A fall from height, such as from a ladder, remains the most common type of fatal injury at work. In 2007/8 there were 58 people who dies as a result of a fall from height whilst at work and a further 3,600 employees suffered a major injury of some kind as a result of a fall from height. According to information from the HSE website, many of these accidents could be avoided if people used the correct equipment and took simple precautions.

Tradespeople and employers will be able to trade in old ladders for new over 4 months from 1st September this year. The scheme, which has been running annually since 2007, has already seen 5,500 old ladders exchange for safer newer alternative. As the message used by the HSE to promote the initiative says – “Don’t let a dodgy ladder shatter your life”.

Claiming for an accident at work

Here at Camps Solicitors our workplace accident lawyers see every day the consequences of poor working practices and defective work equipment. We deal with hundreds of clients each year who have been involved in accidents at work caused by a variety of factors, including defective equipment and falls from height. As injury compensation lawyers, our aim are to get these people the compensation they deserve to help them to rebuild their lives after an accident.

If you have been injured in a fall from height in an accident that wasn’t your fault, or in any other accident at work then you might have grounds to make a claim for compensation. Camps Solicitors will see to it that all aspects of your accident are fully investigated, to ensure your case has the best possible chance for success, and also that you receive a level of compensation that accurately reflects the seriousness of your injuries.

Our staff will examine your employer’s health and safety procedures – it might be that you did not receive proper training or you were not made aware of the risks involved in doing your job. Or you may have been using equipment that was either not suitable for the job, or was defective.