Ladder Accident Statistics UK: 2026 Facts, Data & Key Insights

Ladder Accidents: The Everyday Height Hazard

Ladders are among the most frequently used pieces of work equipment in the UK. They are also among the most frequently misused. From the electrician making a quick repair to the window cleaner reaching a first-floor pane, the painter decorating a stairwell to the maintenance worker changing a light fitting — ladders are present in almost every workplace and every trade. And when they fail, the consequences are often severe.

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.

For the broader falls from height context see our Falls from Height Statistics UK: The Definitive Guide.

Key Facts & Figures (Overview)

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 other employers 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 they might not be.

When Ladder Accidents Happen

Analysis of ladder accident reports reveals consistent patterns in when and why they occur:

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 or stretches beyond the sides of the ladder to reach a work area, shifting their centre of gravity outside the ladder's safe working zone. Overreaching is the most common cause of ladder falls on construction sites.

Using a damaged or defective ladder: Rungs that are broken, bent, or loose; stiles that are cracked or deformed; feet that are missing or worn; or corroded metalwork in aluminium ladders. Visual inspection before each use is the primary control — a defective ladder must be taken out of service immediately.

Unsuitable surface: Ladders placed on uneven ground, soft ground, wet or slippery surfaces, 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 positioned at a 75° angle (the 1-in-4 rule — for every 4 metres of ladder height, place the foot 1 metre away from the wall). A ladder too steep falls backwards; a ladder too shallow slides outward.

Using the wrong ladder for the task: Using a stepladder for a task that requires a leaning ladder, or a short ladder when a longer one is needed, are both risk factors. The correct ladder for each task must be specified in the risk assessment.

Ladder Safety: The Legal Requirements

Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, employers and those controlling work at height must ensure:

Prosecution cases: Companies and individuals have been prosecuted for ladder-related falls from height 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 from a roof — 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. 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 stepladders — platform in good condition.

Overall: No repairs made with tape, wire, or other makeshift fixes. 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.

Written by Working at Height Experts

This guide was produced by the team at Working at Heights Course, a UK provider of RoSPA and CPD-accredited online working at height training. Our courses cover the safe selection, inspection, and use of ladders as part of a broader working at height training programme. For related data see our Falls from Height Statistics UK: The Definitive Guide, Working at Height Statistics UK, Scaffold Accident Statistics UK, and Roof Work Accident Statistics UK.

Sources & References