Speedy Hire, a leading U.K. provider of equipment rental and support services, has teamed up with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as part of its fourth annual campaign to reduce the number of accidents caused by unsafe ladders.

Speedy is offering up to a 50 percent discount off of new ladders in exchange for unsuitable ladders, which it will recycle. The pledge is part of the U.K.-wide ladder exchange designed to reduce the number of deaths and injuries caused by faulty equipment. The company also will offer free online and leaflet guides on how to work safely at height as well as product selection.

Reducing the number of site-based accidents is a key commitment of Speedy’s award winning Safety from the Ground up initiative — an industry-wide educational campaign it first launched in 2005.

Speedy, a member of the Ladder Association, will roll out its ladder exchange program, which will run from September until the end of the year, across over a third of nationwide network of specialist depots.

“Despite the huge strides that have been made over the last five years in reducing accident rates on construction sites, working at height remains the most dangerous activity,” said Mark Turnbull, safety, health, environment and quality director at Speedy. “Many incidents are caused by aging and faulty equipment, which makes the ladder exchange such an important scheme and one we’re whole-heartedly committed to. We continually invest in new access equipment to ensure we offer the safest and most advanced products to our customers and work closely with the HSE, major contractors, manufacturers and trade bodies to drive innovation and promote new legislation.”

For more information about ladder safety visit www.hse.gov.uk/falls/ladderexchange.htm, call Speedy on 0845 601 5129 or visit www.speedyhire.com/height/pg.