The annual awards – which are formally supported by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy – recognise, reward and promote best practice amongst trade associations in the UK.
With falls from height still the single biggest cause of life-changing injuries and fatalities in the workplace, the campaign informs and educates ladder users about the risks involved and the need to ’Get a Grip’ on ladder safety.
In 2017/18, 35 people in the UK left home for work expecting a perfectly normal day, never to return following a fall.
‘If it’s right to use a ladder, use the right ladder and get trained to use it safely’ is the clear message of the campaign which sets out to increase awareness of the need for ladder training to reduce the number and consequences of a fall from height.
Comments campaign manager Lorraine Brown “Now in its fourth phase, the campaign has gone from strength to strength and has attracted support and engagement from a wide range of organisations, including RoSPA, where ’Get a Grip’ is being used to help support the delivery of their National Accident Prevention Plan, particularly around fall prevention.”
A newly created ‘Ladder Safety Pocket Guide’ includes key tips on ladder safety, information about ladder training and a QR code taking the reader to ‘Abbi’s Story’ – a powerful, heart-wrenching video describing the life-changing consequences a fall from height can have on the whole family.
Says Gail Hounslea “Everyone at the Ladder Association is delighted that the campaign has been nominated for such a prestigious award. More importantly, we’re thrilled that ‘Get a Grip’ is making a measurable contribution to work at height safety, with close to 9,000 Ladder Safety Packs downloaded to date from our website.”
The winners will be announced by the Trade Association Forum on 9 July 2019 at County Hall in London.
About the Ladder Association:
The Ladder Association is the not-for-profit authority dedicated to promoting the safe use of ladders and stepladders.
We work closely with the HSE and the Access Industry Forum (AIF) to support codes of good practice, minimum standards for equipment, trained and qualified operatives and education in the work at height sector.
Our members include manufacturers, rental companies, training providers and ladder users. In addition to administering the LadderCard training scheme, we publish safety guidance, a code of practice and technical notes (free on our website).
About the Get a grip on ladder safety campaign:
In August 2018, the Ladder Association launched its ‘Get a Grip’ Ladder Safety Campaign, the single biggest campaign in the Association’s history. With falls from height the biggest cause of life-changing injuries and deaths at work and the shocking statistic that in 2017/18, 35 people in the UK left home for work and never returned following a fall from height, the Association urged ladder users – and anyone involved in ladder use – to ‘Get a Grip’ on ladder safety and training.
The message was clear; if it’s right to use a ladder, use the right ladder and get trained to use it safely. Find out more at www.ladderassociation.org.uk/get-a-grip
About the TFA Best Practice Awards 2019:
Now in its Seventeenth year, this prestigious award ceremony is eagerly anticipated by Trade Association Forum Members as a chance to recognise, reward and promote best practice amongst trade associations in the UK.