Some people may say that the act of being able to use a ladder safely is obvious and requires little or no training whatsoever. But in reality there can be quite a lot to consider – such as using the correct type of ladders, ensuring the ground is safe to place the ladder on, considering whether a colleague is required to steady the ladders and what sorts of jobs can be carried out safely on the ladders.
So training to identify this sort of thing is important – and health and safety legislation demands that employers provide it.
The applicable regulations we need to look at in the cases of ladders are The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations; because ladders are classed as work equipment. Whilst suitability and the condition of the ladders are of course prominent in the laws, there is a specific section in the rules that address the issue of training.
This reads as follows:
Every employer shall ensure that all persons who use work equipment have received adequate training for purposes of health and safety, including training in the methods which may be adopted when using the work equipment, any risks which such use may entail and precautions to be taken.
Every employer shall ensure that any of his employees who supervises or manages the use of work equipment has received adequate training for purposes of health and safety, including training in the methods which may be adopted when using the work equipment, any risks which such use may entail and precautions to be taken.
So, as you can see, receiving adequate training is specifically in the rules – this simply means that, if you are injured in an accident due to a lack of adequate training, you may have a claim for personal injury compensation from your employer.
Cases are nearly always circumstantial, and it is always the duty of the injured accident victim to prove that the accident and injuries were caused as a result of negligence. Normally, if you employer (commonly through their insurers) wants to defend the claim, they must disclose evidence to us to show they’re not at fault. When it comes to training it’s normally a case of signed forms completed by the employee to confirm receipt of training.
In the absence of this kind of evidence, your employer could have a difficult time trying to defend the claim.
The rules are clear – if you are injured due to a training issue then you have the right to make a claim for compensation. Ladders can of course be dangerous, and the risk of injury from falling from height could be significant. For help and advice, call our claims help line 0800 634 7575 today.
