13.11.2011

How not to demonstrate a ladder

Last week we received a video of a training session by the safety officer at major UK contractor- Morrisons.

The man, Paul Cavanagh, is aiming to demonstrate how a new fall arrest lanyard designed for use with a ladder is meant to work. He starts off by having someone throw him his hard hat while up the ladder.
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Paul Cavanagh demonstrates ladder safety

Sadly he then gets a little overzealous and you can see what happens in the video. What the video does show is that the greatest risk when using a ladder is not from the feet kicking out, which everyone tries to prevent by ‘footing’ it, but by the ladder slipping sideways, usually due to users reaching out laterally.
Click here to watch the video
One has to question the real need for a harness and lanyard on a ladder, it would only be effective if your feet were to both slip off the rungs and it might encourage people to work hands free, something the work at height rules do not allow. And anyway proper footwear and a decent ladder ought to prevent foot slippage.

Whatever your views on this a demonstration such as this does not really prove anything one way or another. We understand that Cavanagh was not hurt in the incident, although his pride would certainly have suffered and he was clearly winded.
He has since been disciplined and Morrisons has explained that demonstrations of this type is not something it condones.

UPDATE
Click here to link to Ladder Association web site as suggested by comment below.