Having the
proper training in the use of ladders is essential in the workplace – most
liability insurance policies require proof of training to keep your policy
valid.  Apart from your legal
obligations, it is the duty of an employer to provide the necessary training
for all staff, whether that’s the proper use of step stools for librarians, or
the use of scaffold towers and fall arrest systems for construction
workers.  If you’re a sole trader, you
also have a duty to yourself to ensure you have had the proper training so you
can stay safe at work – avoidable ladder accidents can put you out of action
for months, and in order to claim on employment insurance you may need to prove
that the accident wasn’t the result of your negligence.

Choosing the
right ladder safety course is very important; depending on the level of risk
you take on, you may need in-person training rather than an online, multiple
choice type of course.  For users of
ladders in retail or academic settings (such as the use of step stools for
restocking, or the use of mobile warehouse steps with platforms and guard rails
in archive rooms) a virtual course may be sufficient.  If users are only intermittently required to
use ladders, and these ladders are of a type where a fall is unlikely, and
there is no specialist set-up required, then a full day, on-site course may be
over the top.

If users are
required to set up the ladders they use (including the safe set-up of step
ladders as well as extension and specialist ladders) then an on-site course is
best.  These in person training events
give everyone the chance to try out the theory in the real world, so any issues
with improper angles, poorly engaged safety mechanisms or the deployment of
specialist equipment can be overcome at the time. 

We recommend
looking for training courses which are accredited or provided by The Ladder
Association (LTA).  This is the industry
body which provides consultancy to the Health and Safety Executive when there
are questions about proper ladder use, and they are heavily involved in
defining the safety standards.  Their
training courses are comprehensive and delivered by experts, so you can be
assured that any training delivered by TLA is going to be the best you can get.

Several
independent manufacturers and training providers deliver courses designed by
The Ladder Association, so you can often find a provider in your local area that
can run a course for your staff.  There
is also the option to train as a qualified ladder inspector, which is a good
move if your company uses a lot of ladders as you could save money in the long
run by being able to inspect and certify your own equipment.

To find out
what courses are available, and where you can go to get trained up, have a look
at The Ladder Association
website and get your staff, or yourself, booked in today.  Even experienced ladder users can benefit
from refresher training to stamp out any bad habits, which means everyone in
your organisation will be able to benefit from one of these ladder safety
courses.