In house ladders and steps training to minimise accidents
Posted on 9th Jul, 2014 | By Lorretta Tatham
Peterborough-based engineering company Hedley Solutions Ltd, was fined on June 20th, following a worker’s fall from a ladder onto a wooden floor. The employee, Lee Rutherford, fell more than four metres in 2013, as he installed audio-visual equipment at a school and fractured his leg and arm, as well as shattering his elbow. A year on, he’s still suffering from pain and has had to undergo extensive reconstructive surgery.
Incorrect set-up of equipment can lead to fatalities
The fall happened whilst Rutherford was using an extension ladder unsafely. He slipped whilst at the top of the ladder –positioned against an internal wall of the school hall – as he fed an IT cable through to the loft for a colleague.
The Health and Safety Executive explained that the ladders being used in this scenario had not been secured and that there was no effective anti-slip device or any measure in place to provide stability. A risk assessment also hadn’t taken place.
Rutherford’s employers, Hedley Solutions Ltd, pleaded guilty to breach of health and safety law during a hearing at Scarborough Magistrates’ Court, where they received a total bill of more than £10,000.
It’s your responsibility to keep on top of the law
The HSE state that it’s an employees’ responsibility to do a pre-use check beforehand, to make sure the ladder is safe for use. Ladders should be checked prior to starting a job, and every time something has changed – such as the height or location. Carrying out these checks and risk assessments ensure that any immediate or serious defects will be picked up before they cause an accident. In fact, these are the core skills you can learn about in our working at heights training courses.
The HSE also highlight that it’s the employers (or those in control of any work at a height) to make sure work is properly planned, supervised and carried out by competent people.
Get the knowledge you need with our training courses
Our in house ladders and steps training course (safe use and pre use inspection) is perfect for any employee or employer who finds themselves ever working in these conditions – even office staff or teachers! The course gives you all the practical skills you need when conducting a risk assessment, as well as theory for a comprehensive working knowledge. The topics covered are designed to equip users of access equipment with the skills they need to conduct inspections and to recognise and eliminate dangers.
Protecting you and your colleagues when working at heights is of uttermost importance, that’s why we run our specialist courses – to help keep you safe, whilst ensuring you abide by health and safety law. Why not browse our other training courses to see if there are any others which particularly complement your working environment? Our friendly team are also on hand to take your bookings and answer any questions you may have.