Following the recent Health & Safety Executive (HSE) ‘Workplace Fatal Injuries in Great Britain 2020′ Annual Statistics, which reported a reduction in the number of fatalities, WernerCo is urging people to carry out its Ladder Association accredited training to ensure the safety of professionals working on-site.
The report from HSE revealed that whilst there has been a 24% reduction in the number of fatal accidents in 2019/20, the construction sector still accounts for the significant proportion of these. Additionally, a fall from height still remains the main cause of fatal accidents, despite a 27% reduction in those reported.
The manufacturer is urging ladder users to take caution when working at height, and ensure they have the relevant training required to work safely and correctly.
Steve Lock, Director of Product Engineering at WernerCo, comments: “Whilst the latest HSE report highlights that positive steps are being taken and fatal accidents are reducing, there’s still a long way to go to ensure the safety of tradesmen. In order to overcome this, it’s crucial that people know what they are doing when using and inspecting access equipment, as this knowledge could make all the difference to safety on site.
“The Work at Height Regulations specify that competence is a requirement for working at height. So, simply put, if someone is not competent, they should not be using a ladder at work. Therefore, it is vital that anyone working regularly with ladders receives sufficient training in order to maximise the safety of themselves and those around them.”
The Ladder Association offers comprehensive training sessions for both ladder users and inspectors, and as a response to Covid-19 has recently launched its new online training platform. Covering both the Ladders & Step Ladders for Users and the Ladders & Step Ladders Inspection courses, the online training sessions ensure that tradesmen can continue to gain the relevant understanding of working at height whilst face-to-face training is temporarily suspended. The online course covers the theory element of the traditional training sessions through a series of videos, after which delegates must attend a half-day session once training centres re-open in order to complete the written assessment and practical element.
Alternatively, WernerCo’s Ladder Association approved training sessions have now resumed having been adapted to adhere to social distancing guidelines. Suitable for users and inspectors, both courses comprise practical and theory assessments, covering when and how to use, handle and store a ladder, as well as how to highlight potential hazards. For equipment inspectors, delegates can learn how to assess and determine when it is appropriate to inspect a ladder or stepladder, and how to recommend the correct action if faults are found.
Those who complete either form of training will be issued with a Ladder Association certificate and a LadderCard, which remains valid for five years, allowing them to prove their competence and gain trust among their trade peers and potential employers.
