Serious concerns that dangerous ladders continue to be sold on online platforms to unsuspecting consumers in the UK have again been raised in the latest research commissioned by the Ladder Association.

A shocking 70% of the commercially-available multipurpose ladders tested failed to meet the minimum safety requirements designed to keep users safe, according to a market surveillance study, part of the Ladder Association’s ongoing ‘Step Up to Safe Ladders’ campaign. The sub-standard ladders included best-selling products listed on Amazon and eBay.

Dangerous Ladders

Worryingly, all samples tested that were purchased online from Amazon and eBay as part of the study failed the safety tests, were non-compliant and were unsafe to use.

Worse still, the research found that all of the failed ladders were advertised as ‘compliant’ with the product standard (EN 131-4), either on the product listing, product packaging or product labelling, in a deliberate attempt to mislead consumers.

Further evidence was found that identical substandard products are being sold with different product names, seller names and branding, giving a false impression of greater product variety for consumers.

Online marketplaces have surged in popularity, yet when selling products supplied by third-party sellers, they have no responsibility for preventing unsafe goods being sold on their platforms. They also have no legal obligation to inform consumers if they have purchased unsafe goods.

Dangerous ladder being tested for lateral deflection.

Outside the Law

Not only that, because sellers listed by online platforms are based worldwide, UK Trading Standards cannot investigate and take appropriate enforcement action against them as they operate outside the UK and its safety laws. The sellers are virtually anonymous, making it almost impossible to hold them to account.

The current legal framework gives rogue manufacturers, suppliers and sellers based anywhere in the world, free rein to sell potentially deadly products direct to unsuspecting consumers in the UK without threat of repercussion.

Ladders sold in the UK should be manufactured to comply with product standard EN 131. It was against the most safety critical requirements of this standard that the sample products were tested at the UKAS-accredited independent Test & Research Centre in Soham, UK.

Unsuspecting Consumers

Dangerous ladder rungs being tested for strength.

Peter Bennett, Executive Director of the Ladder Association, commented: “Making sure consumers are safe is our number one priority and we are committed to raising awareness of potentially harmful ladders. Working at height can be risky enough, without the additional danger of shoddy ladders – every 11 minutes in the UK, someone attends A&E after sustaining an injury involving a ladder. A fall from height can cause life changing injury, and in some cases, can even be fatal.

“We are aware of below-standard ladders being sold to unsuspecting consumers, particularly via online platforms, who pass the sole responsibility for product safety to the seller. But, if the seller does not care and has no threat of legal consequence due to being virtually anonymous and based overseas, our current legal framework is allowing people’s lives to be put at risk. This must stop.

“We must stress there are good quality and safe ladders available online and in physical stores – not all multipurpose ladders are unsafe. However, with increasing price pressure and the ‘Amazon effect’ on consumers and businesses, which puts price and convenience above safety, the market is far from a level playing field.

“The Ladder Association is again calling for urgent action from the UK Government to make regulatory changes to hold online platforms accountable for ensuring the products they sell are compliant and safe to use. We’re also urging people to take extra care when buying ladders online – do your research; read the reviews and when you get it, check the ladder itself, along with all instruction manuals and labels. And if you think the ladder is unsafe or dangerous don’t use it!”

Roofing Today has contacted Amazon UK and Ebay for comment.

>>Read more about dangerous ladders in the news

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