Safety alert regarding Ladder Guards!

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a new safety alert emphasising the importance of ensuring suitable measures are in place to prevent members of the public, especially children, from climbing scaffold ladders. The safety bulletin states that where a ladder guard is used:

•  It should cover at least 6 rungs of ladder i.e. preventing foot being placed on at least 5 rungs

•  Must make each rung unusable - no more than 50 mm of rung should be exposed when guard is pushed as far sideways as possible

•  Must not be able to slide over the ladder stile thereby exposing the rungs

•  Must be locked or padlocked in place when not in use – Rope lashing is not acceptable

To meet the requirements of the HSE Safety Alert, George Roberts (NW) Ltd have designed, specified and now have in stock a new ladder guard that not only complies but exceeds the stated minimum requirements.

New Ladder Guard Features

•  1,860mm high – Covers 7 rungs, one more than required by HSE Guidance

•  Only 45mm of rung exposed (when used with a Tuff Steel ladder) – 5mm less than required by HSE Guidance

•  315mm wide – Can be used on other suitable ladders dependent on width of rungs

•  Heavy duty padlock and chain included

•  Light weight sturdy construction – only 4.4kg including padlock and chain

Our new, compliant ladder guard is 315mm wide and 1,860mm tall while the old guard is 270mm wide and 116mm tall. The lower rung is completely covered on the new guard and leaves very little rung exposed when pushed sideways.