Ladders are among the most frequently used pieces of work equipment in the UK — and among the most frequently misused. From the electrician making a quick repair to the window cleaner reaching a first-floor pane, ladders are present in almost every workplace and every trade, and when they fail the consequences are often severe. This guide brings together the latest verified figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), employer reports under RIDDOR and the Labour Force Survey (LFS) to set out the scale of ladder accidents in the UK, why they happen and what the law requires.
Ladder accidents: the everyday height hazard
Ladder accidents are not exclusively a construction hazard. HSE data from the food and drink sector shows that 40% of working at height injuries in that sector alone involve ladders — more than twice the rate of any other single cause. Ladders are involved in a significant proportion of the approximately 4,684 non-fatal falls from height reported by employers under RIDDOR in 2024/25, and feature regularly in the 35 fatal fall-from-height incidents recorded in the same period.
They are the most commonly used piece of work equipment for temporary work at height in the country, which is precisely why even a modest accident rate translates into a large number of injuries each year.
Key facts & figures
- 35 fatalities were caused by falls from height in 2024/25 — the leading cause of workplace death for nearly every year since 2001/02.
- 4,684 employer-reported non-fatal falls from height were recorded in 2024/25 under RIDDOR.
- Up to 44,000 workers were injured in falls from height in 2024/25 according to LFS self-reports.
- 40% of all working at height injuries in the food and drink sector involve ladders — the single largest cause in that sector.
- 75° is the correct angle for a leaning ladder — the 1-in-4 rule.
- Ladders are not banned in the UK workplace — a widespread misconception.
The most common causes of ladder accidents are incorrect use, failure to secure the ladder, using a damaged or substandard ladder, overreaching, and using a ladder on an unstable surface. Falls from ladders typically cause fractures, head injuries, spinal injuries and, in fatal cases, multiple traumatic injuries. Ladder-related prosecutions regularly feature in HSE enforcement activity — failing to secure a ladder, using a defective ladder and failing to train workers in safe ladder use are all prosecutable offences.
The ladder myth
One of the most persistent misconceptions in UK workplace safety is that ladders have been banned. They have not. The HSE is explicit: ladders can be used for work at height when a risk assessment has been carried out and shows they are justified and appropriate for the specific task.
What the Work at Height Regulations 2005 actually require is that the selection of work equipment follows a hierarchy of risk — preferring collective protection (scaffolding, working platforms) over individual protection (ladders, harnesses) where this is reasonably practicable. Ladders are appropriate for short-duration, low-risk tasks where a more substantial work platform is not justified by the nature of the work.
The consequence of this myth is twofold: some employers have banned ladders entirely and replaced them with step stools or improvised platforms that are arguably less safe; and others have used the myth as a reason not to think carefully about whether ladders are actually the most appropriate equipment for a given task.
When ladder accidents happen
Analysis of ladder accident reports reveals consistent patterns in when and why they occur:
| Cause | What happens |
|---|---|
| Failure to secure the ladder | The ladder slides, twists or falls because it has not been tied at the top, footed by a colleague, or secured to a fixed point. Unfooted ladders on smooth or dirty surfaces are a particularly common failure mode. |
| Overreaching | The worker leans beyond the sides of the ladder, shifting their centre of gravity outside the safe working zone. Overreaching is the most common cause of ladder falls on construction sites. |
| Damaged or defective ladder | Broken, bent or loose rungs; cracked or deformed stiles; missing or worn feet; or corroded metalwork in aluminium ladders. A defective ladder must be taken out of service immediately. |
| Unsuitable surface | Ladders placed on uneven, soft, wet or slippery ground, or near obstructions, are significantly more likely to fail. The ladder must be on a stable, level surface. |
| Incorrect angle | A leaning ladder must be set at a 75° angle (the 1-in-4 rule). Too steep and it falls backwards; too shallow and it slides outward. |
| Wrong ladder for the task | Using a stepladder where a leaning ladder is needed, or a short ladder where a longer one is required. The correct ladder for each task must be specified in the risk assessment. |
The 1-in-4 rule is simple to apply: for every 4 metres of ladder height, place the foot 1 metre away from the wall.
Ladder safety: the legal requirements
Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, employers and those controlling work at height must ensure:
- Ladders are only used where a risk assessment shows them to be appropriate — not as the default solution for any work at height.
- Ladders are suitable for the task — correct length, correct type (leaning ladder, stepladder, combination ladder, industrial ladder) and of appropriate strength for the intended load.
- Ladders are regularly inspected — a formal pre-use check by the user and a periodic inspection by a competent person.
- Workers using ladders are trained and competent — able to select, erect, secure, use and inspect ladders safely.
- Ladders are not used for work positions where the work cannot be carried out safely from the ladder — particularly where both hands are needed for the work.
Companies and individuals have been prosecuted for ladder-related falls under both Regulation 4 (the duty to plan, supervise and use competent persons) and Regulation 6 (requirements for equipment used in work at height). In 2024, a construction company and roofing contractor were fined following an incident in which a roofer fell — the HSE investigation found failures to plan and supervise work at height.
Ladder inspection: what to check
Before every use, all ladders should be visually inspected. Key checks include:
- Stiles: No cracks, distortion or corrosion. Both stiles parallel and undamaged.
- Rungs: All rungs present and undamaged, with no bending, cracking or loose fixings. Anti-slip inserts or profiles in good condition.
- Feet: Anti-slip feet present and in good condition — not worn smooth or missing.
- Locking mechanisms: On stepladders, hinges, spreaders and locking bars all intact and functioning; platform in good condition.
- Overall: No repairs made with tape, wire or other makeshift fixes, and no paint obscuring defects (paint should never be applied to wooden ladders).
Any ladder that fails inspection must be immediately withdrawn from service and either repaired by a competent person or safely disposed of.
Sources & references
- HSE — Ladders and Stepladders
- HSE — Kind of Accident Statistics in Great Britain 2025
- HSE Store — Ladder Safety Statistics and the Law
- Access Industry Forum — HSE Releases Annual Workplace Injury Statistics
Make sure everyone who uses a ladder knows how to do it safely.
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Mark writes about working at height, ladder and access safety, compliance and accredited training for Working at Heights Course, part of Online CPD Academy.