Ladder Accident Claims

Don't walk under a ladder. You are sure to have heard about that superstition. Well, whether you believe in it or not, there are over 1000 work injuries caused by ladder accidents in the UK every year and a number of these end in fatality. Ladder accidents are as frequent and serious as those involving scaffolding. There is no doubt that ladders can be dangerous when not handled correctly.

Basically there are two types of ladders, the a-frame ones are typically used on houses for decorating and the like, whilst the other type, extension ladders are used for activities involving work at higher places.

Injuries involving ladders at home can be very serious but the work related ones are often much worse, mainly because of the heights involved. The types of ladders used at work are typically much taller and used in more dangerous circumstances than the domestic arena.

There are a number of regulations governing the workplace but the Work at Height Regulations in particular are in place to try and ensure the safety of workers who are using ladders. Those regulations require amongst other things that employers must train workers in the safe use of ladders.

Some of the training has to show an employee how to ensure that a ladder is fit for use; checking that it isn't dented, or buckled in some way and that there are proper ladder feet. Training should also include looking for slippery substances such as grease, oil or water, both on the ladder and on the surface it is due to stand on and also to check shoes before climbing.

Many ladder accidents are caused because of the ladder slipping or skidding which could be prevented by ensuring that it has non slip safety feet, that the base is blocked or footed in some way and/or it is tied to a permanent structure. These are all elements that should be covered in training.

Overreaching is probably the most common cause of falls from ladders and many accidents are caused by trying to move a ladder while on it, by rocking or pushing it away from the wall. Some accidents have been caused whilst trying to carry heavy loads up ladders or removing heavy items from shelves for example.

Employers have a duty to ensure that workers are properly trained in the use of ladders, that there is a safe working environment to use ladders and that the ladders are correctly maintained. Accidents are commonly caused because the ladder provided is too short for the job, meaning overreaching and falling. Training should also include ensuring that the employee is aware that they should not use the top rungs of the ladder and by never having a hand and a foot off the ladder at the same time. In other words there should be three points of contact at all times. If the working environment makes that difficult to achieve then the use of a harness or some other method of securing should be considered. All employers have a responsibility to carry out proper risk assessments and part of that should consider whether the use of a ladder is justified. Are there safer alternatives?

Some ladder-related injuries are due to improperly designed or manufactured equipment, but ladders have to be kept in good working order in any event.

Some of the injuries caused include head and spinal injuries and fractures caused by falling.

Recent examples of ladder accidents

The Health and Safety Executive who are responsible for investigating accidents involving ladders and other work related accidents give a number of examples of recent cases:

• A maintenance fitter slipping off the rungs of a ladder and being killed when his head hit the floor
• A worker using a ladder that didn’t have safety feet but had suction pads, who didn’t have the ladder footed or secured and who broke both of his wrists when the ladder slid down the wall.
• Finally, the window cleaner who broke his ribs and arm when he fell over 2 metres while cleaning the windows on a newly built housing development. The ladder was not secured or footed and the ground sloped. The construction company had not produced any risk assessments and the worker had received no health and safety induction when he arrived on site.

Proper training, equipment, risk assessments and method statements are all required of a responsible employer and if you have been injured in a ladder accident then you should seek advice on possible compensation.

Click on the compensation guide to find out how much compensation you could expect for your injuries from a ladder accident.

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