If you need to change a light bulb or get something down from a high shelf, you might be tempted to just grab the nearest chair and stand on top of it in order to reach the required height.
But chairs and stools are designed to be sat on, not stood on. Even a sturdy-looking chair may not be stable enough to serve as a safe height access solution.
In the workplace
Employers are legally required to provide a safe working environment for all employees. If your job involves working at height, your employer must give you a safe way to do so.
(And remember, 'working at height' doesn't mean you have to be twenty feet off the ground! If you're working in a situation in which a harmful fall is a possibility, you are working at height and precautions should be taken.)
Standing on a chair in order to work at height is not safe, and you should not be asked to do so. It is your employer's responsibility to carry out a thorough risk assessment and provide the equipment you need to do your job safely. A professional-grade step ladder will allow you to access hard-to-reach areas while keeping your risk of injury low.
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Standing on a chair at home
While there's no law to stop you standing on a chair in the privacy of your own home, we still don't recommend it. A ladder is a very handy thing to have around the house - who knows what odd jobs it might help you to carry out?
Instead of standing on a chair, use a ladder or step stool for the following tasks:
- Changing light bulbs
- Painting walls and ceilings
- Hanging lights and decorations
- Retrieving items from high shelves
- Trimming hedges (see Garden Ladders)
- General DIY and home repairs
Our folding step stool is a great, cost-effective product that's ideal for all sorts of domestic uses. Available with 2 or 3 treads to help you reach higher at home.
Buy Folding Steps
Visit Ladders UK Direct to browse our full range of ladders and steps for domestic and commercial use!
