Ladder Exchange Campaign Kicks Off With Spotlight on Inspections

The Ladder Association’s highly successful Ladder Exchange campaign returns for another year from 1 September – 31 December 2013. With the start of the campaign, SG World is providing a free Ladder Inspection Paddle with the purchase of three or more Ladder Inspection Checklists to encourage ladder users to inspect their ladders and make sure they are safe.

The campaign, which encourages ladder users to exchange their dodgy ladders for ones that are safe to use, saw a 35% increase in ladders exchanged during last year’s campaign. The success of the 2012 campaign led to this year’s Ladder Exchange running for an additional month into December targeting home ladder users in the run-up to Christmas. The campaign’s overall aim is to lift awareness about the need to check and inspect ladders regularly, and to use them safely.

“The ladder is an invaluable piece of workplace equipment,” Cameron Clow, Ladder Association Chairman, said. “However, like everything else, some common-sense rules apply. Just remember that if it’s right to use a ladder, use the right ladder, in good condition and make sure you use it properly.”

This year, the Ladder Exchange will also focus each month on a specific topic: inspection, ladder training, best practice and home use. The campaign starts with the spotlight on ladder inspections. While ladders are a ubiquitous staple in homes and workplaces, work on a ladder does come under working at height and care should be taken when using a ladder. The HSE recommends a pre-use check before using a ladder to make sure it is safe to use.

SG World supports safe ladder use with their dedicated set of inspection tools for ladders. The Ladder Inspection Checklist is a simple duplicate checklist in a pad which the user can work through and check the safety of each ladder component in turn. Once they have inspected the ladder and established it is safe for use, the top copy of the checklist is torn from the book and its convenient red light-green light reverse safety indication is displayed in a hi-vis inspection status indicator.

For the month of September SG World is offering a free hi-vis ladder inspection status indicator with the purchase of three or more Ladder Inspection Checklists. Each ladder checklist contains 30 pre-use inspections which are an easy way for workers to ensure their ladder is safe before use. The offer ends on 30th September.

The Ladder Association’s Ladder Exchange campaign also includes the launch of a new training course for occasional ladder users called ‘Working with Steps and Step Stools,’ which will cover the law, relevant standards, latest guidance and potential hazards and storing and handling step stools in the workplace. The Ladder Association has also reopened its “Idiots on Ladders” contest, asking people to submit their best picture of someone misusing a ladder to the Ladder Association Facebook page for a public vote. The “Ladder Idiot of the Year” for 2012 was a picture of a worker reaching to the top of a chimney using a ladder propped on a neighbouring building, with a large drop directly below. The image won with 30% of the vote.

SG World Ladder Safety Offer Terms & Conditions
Get a free ladder status indicator paddle when you buy three or more ladder inspection pads. Enter offer code 'laddersafety' at the online checkout to claim this freebie.

  • This offer is limited to orders placed through the SG World website
  • Items must be purchased before November 2013
  • Free ladder status indicator with any single purchase of three or more ladder inspection pads
  • Offer limited to one free indicator per customer
  • SG World reserves the right to amend discounts and the way in which they are calculated without prior notice
Previous article Asset Management - 2013 Changes to the Academies Financial Handbook
Next article HSE Launches National Clampdown on Poor Construction Site Safety