Ladders: Health and Safety
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to (a) reduce the number of deaths resultant from falls from a ladder and (b) improve the safety of people working from heights.
Answered by Sir Stephen Timms
Falls from height, including from ladders, remain a leading cause of fatal injury. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) treats this as a core enforcement priority.
To reduce deaths from falls from a ladder, HSE enforces the Work at Height Regulations 2005 (WAH), which require employers to ensure work at height is properly planned, supervised and carried out safely. This includes only using ladders where appropriate and safer alternatives are unavailable, ensuring workers are competent, and that equipment is suitable, properly maintained and inspected. HSE also provides targeted guidance on the safe use of ladders, available at Safe use of ladders and stepladders - HSE.
To improve the safety of people working at height, Regulation 6 of WAH places duties on employers and the self-employed to perform risk assessments and follow the hierarchy of controls; avoid work at height where possible, prevent falls through suitable equipment such as working platforms and guard rails, and minimise consequences where risk remains. HSE supports this through inspections, enforcement and guidance, including on planning, supervision, competence and safe systems of work.
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