Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 18th April 2024 Issue no. 1110
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'Festive fall' tips released by the Ladder Association
Industry body the Ladder Association is helping keep people safe over the Christmas period as part of its annual Ladder Exchange scheme, which gives people the chance to trade in old, dangerous ladders for discounted new ones.
Each month the Ladder Exchange focuses on one safety theme, and December's is all about the dangers unique to using a ladder around Christmas. On the Ladder Exchange website, a new Christmas section has been launched giving 'Five Festive Tips.'
"Between worsening weather and people putting up their decorations, Christmas is one of the most important times to make sure that people are being safe," notes Ladder Association chairman Cameron Clow. "This year the Ladder Association's special Christmas guidance is a gift to everyone who might climb up a ladder at home or at work."
The Christmas tips include which type of ladder to use for which job - for example, stepladders are not recommended for getting into the loft at Christmas - and how to minimise the danger of slipping on icy surfaces.
After Christmas the Ladder Exchange ends on December 31st. Until then, people and businesses can continue to trade their ladders by visiting the website.
Also ending in December is the annual Idiots on Ladders contest which runs alongside the Exchange. So far the public has sent in more pictures than in any previous year, and over 50 have been put online.
Images of the worst examples of ladder use can still be sent in by the public during December, to [email protected] and In January, the 'Biggest Idiot on a Ladder' will be announced, based on which picture received the most Likes on the Association's Facebook page (facebook.com/ladderassociation).
Despite a steady decline, falls from height remain the most common kind of workplace fatality. In 2010/11, a total of 38 workers died and 4,327 employees suffered a major injury as a result of a fall from height in the workplace, with a further 10,232 employees suffering an 'over 3 day' injury. Many of these incidents could have been avoided by people with the right training using the correct equipment that had been properly inspected and maintained.
Image: Are you in there Santa?
4th December 2014