A 5-step ladder control for optimal safety before climbing

You may have seen our recent photo of crazy stairs (above) and that's fine, we like to laugh, but here at BRM we take the safety of the stairs very seriously along with all the health and safety for our customers. We know that roofing is a dangerous profession and that falling from a height is still the main cause of life-changing injuries and death at work. Even in perfect weather and working conditions, working at height on steep slopes are routine risks for a professional roofer. And, most of the time, thanks to our wonderful weather, wind and rain can quickly change a job from dangerous to downright dangerous.

 

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recommends that the use of the ladder be avoided whenever possible by doing all the work you can from the scaffolding, or even better, from the ground. Surprisingly, statistics indicate that in 2018/19, 40 people in the UK left home to work and never returned after a fall from a height. We have the greatest respect for our roofing clients, who know what they are doing when it comes to working at height, the correct way to use stairs and how to keep their equipment safely. However, as everyone returns to work this fall, we remind everyone to check the stairs for optimal safety before climbing.

Adjustable Ladder Brackets

5 key things to check on each ladder:

Steps and rails: make sure nothing is worn or bent and verify that there is no slack, cracks, screws or missing bolts.

Material: check for corrosion, such as rusty or loose parts, etc.

Hardware: make sure shoes, clamps, etc. Be all sure.

Tags: you should not only verify that they are there; The labels contain essential information for the user, such as the carrying capacity and the instructions to scale for compliance. You should also verify that your ladder meets the new (or earlier) standard EN 131 or BS 1129 and BS 2037.

General cleaning: remove dirt that may be hiding possible problems.

If any of the above does not work, the ladder is not suitable for its purpose and must be removed and replaced.

 

Speaking of purpose, it is important to mention that the stairs used in ceilings are designed with unique purposes in mind. They have different constructions, along with accessories that require different safety measures to make them safer. Employers have a duty to ensure that their employees are using the right type of equipment to work at height.