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Home / New Zealand

Suspect ladder sales stun widow

27 Aug, 2003 07:45 AM2 mins to read

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The widow of a Hamilton man who died after falling from a ladder this year says she is stunned that the ladder did not meet safety standards.

Industrial abseiler Robbie Stewart suffered severe head injuries on April 29. His life support system was switched off two days later.

The ladder is one
of two aluminium models sold exclusively by the Building Depot and which are now being recalled.

Mr Stewart was working on the ladder as part of a team cleaning the outside of a central Hamilton building.

Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) is investigating the accident and spokeswoman Kathryn O'Sullivan confirmed the ladder involved is one of two models being recalled because the catch mechanism does not meet strict Australian and New Zealand safety standards.

"It has the potential to collapse when a person is on it."

Ms O'Sullivan said owners of the ladders should return them to Building Depot. The result of the investigation was due within a month, she said.

Helen Stewart said the investigation would not bring her husband back, but it was important that no one else faced a similar tragedy.

She urged all ladder-owners to check their model numbers.

"If in doubt, take it back."

Mr Stewart's boss, Graham Jefferis, said he could not comment because he did not want to jeopardise the OSH investigation.

But he said 900 of the ladders had been sold in the past three years. He bought the ladder from the Building Depot and it had safety certification stickers.

Ladder manufacturers Casmor International and the Building Depot have recalled models AEX60 and AP60.

Advertisements state that the ladders could cause a user to fall.

"If the upper section locking mechanism is not properly engaged, the upper section will completely retract."

Fully extended, the ladders reach 6.1m. They have been available exclusively at the Building Depot for more than four years.

Danger device

Type: AEX60 and AP60 aluminium ladders.

Numbers sold: 900 in last three years.

Fault: Catch mechanism can collapse.

Sold by: Building Depot.

What to do: Return ladders to Building Depot for a full refund.

For more information, phone 0800 822-766.

- NZPA

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