DODGY ladders have been seized by Town Hall public health inspectors. It was part of a health and safety’ campaign by Tower Hamlets council in East London whose officers stumbled across 40 dangerous ladders which they have now taken away to be recycled

DODGY ladders have been seized by Town Hall public health inspectors.

It was part of a health and safety’ campaign by Tower Hamlets council in East London whose officers (pictured) stumbled across 40 dangerous ladders which they have now taken away to be recycled.

But they’ve taken a step in the right direction and declared an amnesty after making 135 visits to businesses on the look-out for workers at risk using dangerous equipment.

“There is still a lot of sub-standard ladders out there,” said chief Environmental Health officer Sandra Edmeade-Walters.

“We’ve been getting rid of dangerous ones and talking to businesses about their responsibilities to their employees.”

Some ladders had rungs held together with just sticky tape and others with no feet and broken columns.

Falls from ladders are the most common workplace fatality, the authority points out.

Every year an average of 14 people die in Britain and another 1,200 are seriously injured at work from falling off leaning ladders or stepladders, according to Health & Safety Executive national statistics.

Regulations means firms “must take steps” to prevent falls, the Town Hall insists. If not, the council will literally take them—and confiscate the dodgy ladders.