LADDERS VS STAIRWAYS STEPPING UP TO THE CHALLENGE

Ladders and stepladders may be a sensible and practical option for low-risk, quick tasks, but human error can never be totally eliminated so it is vital to question the use of ladders on work sites. Although ladders will generally be used for only short periods, workers must be fully aware of the risks and any health and safety precautions that should be taken.

Falls from ladders occur for a number of reasons, such as the user over-reaching, poorly placed ladders, or a ladder placed on rough or uneven ground and not securely tied off. Falls can even occur by trips and falls by simply not installing an access gate at appropriate levels. These are often the result of limited planning, poor organisation or a failure to get the right system in place at the correct time. To counteract this, the EASHW (European Agency for Safety and Health at Work) suggests employers take simple, practical measures to reduce the risk of workers falling while working at height.

With this in mind, it''s crucial that the right product or system is in place first time, every time to ensure a safe, reliable and accessible construction site for all.

General best practice and Europe''s Work at Height regulations support the industry move away from ladders. EASHW in fact states that ladders ‘should be the last choice as a means of access or place of work when you think about your work at height'' as they neither prevent nor mitigate a fall. So what is the solution?

One consideration is temporary stairways. A leader in safety at height solutions, COMBISAFE, offers an expansive portfolio of temporary solutions to provide safe and secure access to all areas of working at height. Two of the brand''s leading solutions – the galvanised steel Site Stairway and the all-aluminium Universal Stair – support the industry move away from ladders.

A step in the right direction

Temporary access stairways allow construction professionals to walk up a secure staircase rather than climbing ladders during the early stages of the project. As well as improving health and safety standards and site working conditions, stairways deliver production, financial and technical benefits.

For temporary access between various levels on construction sites, this can be efficiently achieved using the COMBISAFE Site Stairway. Fully compliant with EN 12811 and available in five lengths, it is lightweight, easy to handle and carry, and can be put up in minutes. The Site Stairway can also be set up on table forms, between floors in buildings, in service ducts, around the perimeter, or elsewhere.

At every project, the installer and contractor must also consider the effects that any construction works will have on the physical or aesthetic aspects of the building. The Site Stairway can protect a building''s permanent stairs from the wear and tear of the construction process to offer additional convenience and cost benefits for the client.

Alternatively, the UNIVERSAL STAIR offers an all-aluminium solution that can be easily assembled and automatically adjusted to suit a wide range of lift heights. The system folds flat for easy transportation and storage when not in use and for simple and efficient manoeuvring between project locations.

The risks associated with working at height are well known and documented thanks to progressive health and safety initiatives and legislation, as well as constant improvements to building regulations. Having developed a range of safety solutions over the last 3 decades, COMBISAFE meets the needs of any work at height project to deliver safety measures that set the standard for the industry.