Launch of Ladders Fortnight (14 - 25 November 2005) in Scotland
12/11/05
Following upon 13 workers deaths from falls while working on a ladder, and more than 1200 suffered major injuries Thompsons Scotland has expressed support for a fortnight of events to raise awareness of the risks of using ladders. Beginning on Monday, 14 November, the Health and Safety Executive inspectors will work with ladder users and their employers, look at the current use of ladders and suggest sensible measures to improve safety. These events are part of HSE's national Ladders Week initiative to promote safe use of ladders.
In Scotland, between 2001 and 2004, five employees died as a result of a fall from ladders, 415 employees suffered major injuries, and 382 suffered injuries that required more than three days off work. These figures come from reports received by the HSE but it is possible that many more accidents have not been reported.
Stewart Campbell, HSE Director, Scotland said: "With a little more planning and assessment of the risks, understanding of the limitations of ladders, proper maintenance and checking that users are competent, many of these accidents could be avoided.
"A major injury, such as a broken bone or fractured skull, can often be a life changing event for the person concerned and their family. Quite apart from the personal suffering, an injury of this sort can adversely affect earning power and job prospects for a long time after the accident.
In Scotland the campaign is being launched with an event at the Dewars Centre in Perth on 14 November, (1.00 - 4.30) which has a target audience of facilities management companies, large organisations which may have their own maintenance facilities on site, and other companies which use ladders - the aim being to take the information available from the campaign and cascade this as widely as possibly.
Concern has however been raised as to the programme of pre-arranged visits to up to 70 facilities management companies in Scotland to assess the potential for improvement in selection of access equipment and the safe use of ladders as such pre-arranged visits are seen as lessening the regulatory inspection role of the HSE.
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