Speedy Hire offers to exchange old or faulty ladders

Speedy Hire is offering to exchange old and faulty ladders for safer equipment in a campaign to improve safety when working at height.

The ladder exchange is a joint initiative with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to cut the high number of deaths and injuries caused by falls from height.

According to HSE statistics, falls from ladders caused 12 deaths last year - over a quarter of the total number caused by falls from height.

Ladders were also responsible for nearly 1200 serious injuries. These incidents are estimated to have cost the economy over £60m last year.

Mark Turnbull, safety, health, environment and quality director at Speedy Hire, said: “If customers bring in their old ladders to our depot we will conduct a full inspection to see if they are safe. Ladders should only be used for low risk, short duration tasks. Sometimes an alternative product, such as a working platform or podium, is a better option.

Customers who bring in their old ladders for exchange will receive up to 50% discount on ladders and stepladders certified to BSEN131 or BS203

Mark Turnball

“Customers who bring in their old ladders for exchange will receive up to 50% discount on ladders and stepladders certified to BSEN131 or BS2037. Wherever possible, we will send any ladders that do not pass inspection to be recycled.”

During the ladder exchange campaign HSE and local authority inspectors will be visiting premises, to provide advice about ladder safety.

The ladder exchange will be been running from 1 September and the discount is valid at participating Speedy Hire tool depots and access branches until end December.

During last year’s campaign more than 4000 ladders were exchanged.