Hi
I use ladders constrantly throughout the day and so do all my staff, we have a huge stockroom with 58 bays of stock, 6 shelves per bay, the bays ar 12ft high.
It is important to know the reguslations regarding safety when using ladders, inclusing the maintenance of the ladder, including making sure they have all the rubber feet intact. It is essential to wear the correct footwear and to work on the ladder facing the way you are working.
But mainly it is essential that your employer carries out a risk assessment annually and refreshes this as new staff are taken on, to ensure that any issues regarding any member of staff using ladders at height is identified.
It is easy to become complacent, I have never had an accident but i have had a near miss when a member o my staff was rushing and didn't prop the step-ladders up against the fixture properly and they fell. It could have been a serious head injury, instead i called her a dozy bint and made her get me a cup of tea!!!!