Idiots On Ladders

It’s estimated that over two million ladders are in daily use in the UK, and with falls from height still one of the main causes of death and injury in the workplace, it’s vital that these ladders and stepladders are regularly inspected and safe to use.

Idiots on Ladders: After the huge success of last year’s contest to find the biggest idiot on a ladder – which saw thousands of people tuning into the Ladder Association’s Facebook page every week to view, vote and send in pictures of the most stupid ladder use they could find – Idiots on Ladders is back for 2013. When it comes to working at height, just as important as getting the right equipment is knowing how to use it.

The Ladder Exchange means nothing if people take their new ladders home and start balancing on them on one leg, so Idiots on Ladders is on a mission to shame the worst. Taken or found a picture of ridiculously unsafe ladder use? Just either post it on the Facebook page, send it to us on Twitter, or email michael.fern@ladderassociation.org.uk with the picture attached. The voting works just like last year – the number of ‘Likes’ each picture gets on Facebook is tallied up and the winner is announced at the end of the Ladder Exchange.

It’s estimated that over two million ladders are in daily use in the UK, and with falls from height still one of the main causes of death and injury in the workplace, it’s vital that these ladders and stepladders are regularly inspected and safe to use. The annual Ladder Exchange, now run and managed by the Ladder Association, is your opportunity to exchange any dodgy, bent and broken ladders for safe, brand new ones. Simply take your old ladders to a participating partner near you and swap them at a discount. You get a new ladder at a concessionary price and everyone stays safe. And this year you’ve got an extra month to do it in!

Now extended to 31st December 2013! It’s estimated that over two million ladders are in daily use in the UK, and with falls from height still one of the main causes of death and injury in the workplace, it’s vital that these ladders and stepladders are regularly inspected and safe to use. The annual Ladder Exchange, now run and managed by the Ladder Association, is your opportunity to exchange any dodgy, bent and broken ladders for safe, brand new ones. Simply take your old ladders to a participating partner near you and swap them at a discount. You get a new ladder at a concessionary price and everyone stays safe. And this year you’ve got an extra month to do it in! 

Click to enlarge.

Is My Ladder Dodgy? It might not always be easy to tell if your ladder is in a fit state to work with, and a ladder that worked fine before could become unsafe the next time it’s used. With that in mind, here’s a checklist approved by the Health & Safety Executive that should be carried out by the user at the beginning of the working day and after a change (like dropping the ladder or moving it from a dirty to a clean area). If you are still unsure on whether your ladder is fit for use simply take it to one of the Ladder Exchange trade-in partners and they will check it over for you.

UnSafe Work Practises Highlighted

Witness told the Winnipeg Sun that the window washer's rope broke, causing him to fall all the way down through a ground-floor overhead window and into the complex’s lobby.

Province planning crackdown on unsafe workplaces: Chris Piper fell eight stories and survived. Two weeks ago, he was cleaning windows when something went terribly wrong. He's still recovering but the death-defying fall was just one of about 37,000 workplace accidents that happen every year in Manitoba. 24-year old Curtis Martel says he's been injured so many times at work, he's lost count. "A lot of day to day things, like cuts and burns, working in restaurants that's really common, slips, falls, chemical burns," said Martel. From minor injures to fatalities, the province is now cracking down on employers who repeatedly fail to keep their workplaces safe. "I think you can expect to see more fines in the coming months," announced Jennifer Howard, Minister Responsible for the Worker's Compensation Board.

Come Monday, any company with a lot of accidents will be displayed on, www.safemanitoba.com, for you to see. "Some companies need to be named and shamed in order to change their work practices," said Martel. As well, the province will reward good employers by reducing Worker's Compensation rates if there are fewer injured workers, some the Federation of Labour says will cause other problems. "Sadly there are a number of employers out there that use that way to game the system," said Kevin Rebeck, "they use intimidation, pressure or misinformation so workers don't report their claims." "We need to make sure the incentives actually result in safer workplaces," said Howard. The province is conducting a review of the entire Workplace Safety and Health Act, changes it hopes will prevent accidents from happening.

Teng Laguilam hands over donations made by Filipino residents to Jovita Bulseco. Bulseco said her problem began after she fell while cleaning a window in her employer’s home.

OFWs help ailing housemaid (Jeddah) — Kindhearted Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) taking part in a basketball tournament here donated money to help an ailing Filipino domestic helper who is collecting money to finance an operation to remove a tumor in her spine. Audience members, players and organizers of the Filipino Basketball Tournament all donated money to help 37-year-old Jovita Bulseco pay for her operation. “I am very happy seeing my fellow OFWs donating money from their hearts and I am convinced that bayanihan spirit among Filipinos is still alive,” said a teary-eyed Bulseco.

Teng Laguialam, President of the Filipino Salesman and Merchandizers (FILSAMA) and Commissioner of the Filipino Basketball League said it is their duty as Filipinos to render assistance to any fellow countrymen in need. Acknowledging the amount donated was not very big, Laguialam said the compassion he saw from the kababayan after he informed them of Bulseco’s situation, made him proud to be a Filipino.

Bulseco said her problem began after she fell while cleaning a window in her employer’s home. Two months later, when her condition worsened, she was finally taken to the hospital. She said she isn’t ashamed to ask for help and will do anything for the sake of her children’s future. Due to her condition, Bulseco has difficulty walking and relies on a walking stick. She learned of the tumor in her spine after an advocacy group in Jeddah brought her to the hospital to have her spine checked.

Bulseco said she began asking for financial assistance from her compatriots because her employer is unlikely to shoulder her medical expenses or the costs of her operation. “I still have hope that my employer will help me. I hope I can survive this problem for the sake of my children,” said Bulseco.