Recurring concern

Unsafe use of ladders

First to latest report 3 Mar 2017 — 20 Mar 2019

Reports that mention this concern
2
Times this concern has been raised
4
Stated actions linked to this concern
0

What this concern includes

Includes failures of controls specifically dedicated to safe ladder use, including ladder selection, inspection, positioning, securing, opening, component awareness and safe working methods.

What is not included
  • Excludes generic workplace training, risk assessment or health-and-safety governance deficiencies unless they are directly tied to safe ladder use.
  • Excludes hazards involving scaffolds, steps, access equipment or other work equipment unless the assertion specifically concerns ladders.
  • Excludes falls or injuries where no unsafe ladder-use condition is identified.
  • Excludes the particular failure of ladder spigots, positioning or securing when no wider ladder-use concern is supported.

Reports and published responses 2 reports

See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response

  1. Blackpool and the Fylde

    AI-generated summary

    Christopher BEVAN · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Christopher BEVAN fell from a ladder while working on a garage roof on 14 August 2018 and sustained head injuries. He died at Royal Preston Hospital on 15 August 2018. The principal concern was that ladders were used in potentially unsafe circumstances and in a manner that could present a risk to life, including on a possibly slippery surface, without being footed or secured at the top, and while adopting an awkward position.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Unsafe positioning during ladder use

    Wider context from the report

    “(1) That ladders may be used in the course of your work (a) in circumstances in which their use may present a risk to life and/or (b) in a manner in which their use may present a risk to life. The Court received evidence to the effect that the ladders in use at the time of the fatal accident on 14ᵗʰ August 2018 were used on a surface which may have been slippery, that they were not footed during use, that they were not secured at the top save to the extent that they were supported by the blockwork and/or by recently laid coping stones of a facing wall above the door opening of the garage and that they may have been used by the Deceased, with whom you had been working, in a manner which involved him assuming an awkward position in order to carry out your work. The concern therefore arises that you may use or those with whom you may work may use ladders in circumstances or in a manner which present a risk to you, to them and/or to others. ”

    Source location

    Christopher BEVAN · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 1 · concerns

    Open source report

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Unsafe ladder setup in work circumstances

    Wider context from the report

    “(1) That ladders may be used in the course of your work (a) in circumstances in which their use may present a risk to life and/or (b) in a manner in which their use may present a risk to life. The Court received evidence to the effect that the ladders in use at the time of the fatal accident on 14ᵗʰ August 2018 were used on a surface which may have been slippery, that they were not footed during use, that they were not secured at the top save to the extent that they were supported by the blockwork and/or by recently laid coping stones of a facing wall above the door opening of the garage and that they may have been used by the Deceased, with whom you had been working, in a manner which involved him assuming an awkward position in order to carry out your work. The concern therefore arises that you may use or those with whom you may work may use ladders in circumstances or in a manner which present a risk to you, to them and/or to others. ”

    Source location

    Christopher BEVAN · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 1 · concerns

    Open source report

  2. Inner South London

    AI-generated summary

    Alan Walsh · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Alan Walsh fell from a 2.5-metre ladder while inspecting a fault in a ceiling void at Eltham Leisure Centre and died the same day from injuries sustained in the fall. The report raised concern about a lack of awareness of the safety-critical role of the ladder’s spigots and the possibility that they could be inadvertently sheared off, although their absence was not found to have caused the accident.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Risk of ladder spigots being inadvertently sheared off during premature opening

    Wider context from the report

    “There would appear not be awareness of the safety critical role of the spigots on this ladder, nor the fact that they can easily and inadvertently be sheared off, on premature opening of the ladder. Whilst the absence of these spigots was not found to be the cause of this accident, they may have had a role in the injuries sustained and the implications of the lack of awareness may create risks to health and safety. ”

    Source location

    Alan Walsh · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Lack of awareness of ladder spigot safety role and shearing risk during premature opening

    Wider context from the report

    “There would appear not be awareness of the safety critical role of the spigots on this ladder, nor the fact that they can easily and inadvertently be sheared off, on premature opening of the ladder. Whilst the absence of these spigots was not found to be the cause of this accident, they may have had a role in the injuries sustained and the implications of the lack of awareness may create risks to health and safety. ”

    Source location

    Alan Walsh · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report

Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.

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Data last updated 7 September 2026