Consumer Affairs received a complaint about a ladder which collapsed as the user was climbing it for the first time. The metal sheared and broke in half. The 4.7M folding ladder was bought new from an online supplier, rated at 150KG. The user weighed less than 90KG.
The Ministry bought an identical ladder from the same seller and sent it for testing to AS / NZS 1892.1:1996 Portable ladders. It failed on many technical points such as labelling, and the ladder collapsed before the testing could be completed.
With the cooperation of Trade Me, the Ministry identified other buyers of this ladder and notified them of the danger. The trader is refunding these consumers.
The Ministry is now investigating a wider range of ladders being sold online and will consider whether the current safety standard should be strengthened or made mandatory.
