This week (12th – 16th May 2025) is No Falls Week.
Now in its second year, this annual campaign aims to promote good height safety practices in British workplaces. Falls from height kill more workers in this country than any other type of accident, so it's crucial for employers and their staff to understand the risks that come with working at height and the steps that can be taken to mitigate said risks.
Falls from ladders are the most common type of fall from height in UK workplaces, so we at Ladders UK Direct take height safety very seriously indeed. In the spirit of No Falls Week, here's some advice to follow if you (or your employees) need to use a ladder while working...
What you can do to avoid falling off a ladder
- Carry out a thorough risk assessment. It's essential to conduct a full risk assessment before carrying out any sort of work at height. See our Ladder Risk Assessment Guide for examples of what to look for, and remember: ladders aren't the right tool for every task. As stated in the HSE's Safe Use of Ladders guidance, they're best suited to low-risk jobs that can be completed within half an hour.
- Make sure the ladder is safe to use. Always give your ladder a quick visual inspection before you start using it (and carry out a more thorough inspection 2 – 4 times a year). If you spot any signs of damage, get a new ladder!
- Only use ladders on level, stable surfaces. To minimise the risk of a fall, each foot of your ladder should be firmly in contact with the ground at all times.
- Choose suitable footwear. Ideally, you want to wear a pair of heavy-duty shoes or work boots that offer lots of grip. For more footwear advice, see What Are the Best Shoes for Climbing Ladders?
- Wait for good weather. Using a ladder outdoors when the weather is wet and/or windy greatly increases your risk of falling. If at all possible, wait until the bad weather has cleared up before you start working.
- Get the angle right. If you're using a leaning ladder, be sure to follow the 1-in-4 rule to minimise the risk of a slip. In a nutshell: the distance between the wall and the base of your ladder should be 1/4 of the ladder's working height.
- Secure the ladder before you start. See How to Stop Your Ladder from Slipping for ladder stabilisation tips. Asking someone else to 'foot' the ladder while you climb it is not recommended except as an absolute last resort.
- Try not to rush! It's natural to want to get the job done as quickly as possible, but slow and steady is always safer. When climbing up or down a ladder, take it one step at a time and don't go too fast.
- Maintain three points of contact with the ladder. Ideally, you should have both feet and one hand (or both hands and one foot) on the ladder at all times. If you need both hands free, lean your body against the ladder to create a third point of contact.
- Don't reach too far to one side. When you're on a ladder, observe the belt buckle rule. Avoid leaning out to one side or the other, as this may cause the ladder to lose its balance and topple over.
- Be mindful of the ladder's maximum weight capacity. If your ladder conforms to the EN131 standard then it should be able to handle loads up to 150kg. Make sure you're not exceeding that limit, and remember that any tools or materials which need to come up the ladder with you will add to your total weight.
Buy a Ladder Buy a Step Ladder
