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As part of the on-going 'Shattered Lives' campaign to raise awareness on how to prevent accidents and injuries resulting from slips, trips and falls from height at work, the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) ladder exchange programme started on 1st September 2008.
The exchange is an initiative run by the HSE, local authorities (LA's) and a number of private sector partners. The aim of the exchange is to remove 5,000 sub-standard ladders from Britain's workplaces. The campaign ran last year and successfully exchanged 4,194 damaged ladders. A quarter of these were items confiscated by LA inspectors during site inspections.
The exchange is voluntary and free to those who wish to take advantage of improving the standards of work equipment. Duty holders are invited to take their bent or broken ladders to private sector partners and exchange them for new or more appropriate access equipment.
The HSE website has detailed information about the ladder exchange, including the private sector partners taking part. In addition, employers can order a campaign pack which includes guidance, training materials and posters to enable them to focus their employees' attention on these issues.
The exchange presents an ideal opportunity for employers to review their risk assessments for work activities that require employees to work at height, a requirement of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. It is a good opportunity for employers to look into current, affordable access equipment that may be a viable alternative to working from ladders or improving means of access and egress.
Further information can be found at http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls/ladderexchange.htm
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