Introducing the
Safe & Sure Seal:
Your assurance of
safety and quality
Are you an importer of portable ladders or mobile access towers looking to stand out in a crowded market?
The Safe & Sure Seal is the certification you need to demonstrate to consumers that your products meet stringent UK safety standards. Developed by the Ladder Association, the UK’s leading industry body for portable ladders, and PASMA, the leading industry body for access towers, this certification is your gateway to building trust and credibility with your customers.
Why do we need the Safe & Sure Seal?
Ladder Association
The Association’s market surveillance reports have shown since 2021 that over 80% of telescopic and multi hinge-joint ladders are dangerous.
The Ladder Association founded the “Step up to Safe Ladders” campaign to highlight the risks to users.
These ladders are typically found through online marketplaces and are being sold directly by overseas sellers. This legal loophole leaves consumers exposed to dangerous, sub-standard products, where the seller can suffer no legal responsibility. This was highlighted in the recent BBC Morning Live investigation (link). Their drive is sales and profit, not user safety.
PASMA
Access towers are widely available from hire centres, stores and online marketplaces, with thousands used daily.
Unfortunately, despite existing legislation making clear that all products on the market must be safe and existing standards being well established, there are still towers out there that are not safe at all.
Market surveillance in 2024 found weak components that may buckle or break, inadequate fall prevention features, including gaps big enough for a person to fall through, and basic safety features like platforms and stabilisers offered as ‘optional extras’ or missing altogether.
Working at height can be dangerous, even more so if the equipment used can buckle and break under the users weight. These associations are working to raise awareness of substandard products and have a responsibility to ensure that consumers can find good quality, safe products.
The Seal is intended for UK importers and own-branders. It shows to users that their access products meet the safety standards, and have been assessed in the UK.
Any importer or own-brander takes on the legal responsibility to ensure that products placed on the UK market are safe. That’s what the General Product Safety Regulations (GPSR) say and sets a high bar to ensure consumer safety.
Independent and impartial assessment of the product, and the import management, is fundamental to the scheme. Both are assessed in the UK by the Test & Research Centre, a UKAS accredited not-for-profit test laboratory and certification body.
What is the Safe & Sure Seal?
The Safe & Sure Seal is an independent third-party certification aimed specifically at UK-based importers of portable ladders and mobile access towers. Unlike existing certifications that cater primarily to manufacturers, our scheme focuses on the needs of importers. It ensures that your products meet the relevant standards, offering consumers a reliable way to make informed buying decisions.
Unique selling points
-
TARGETED AT IMPORTERS:
Unlike other schemes, such as T&RGETMARK for manufacturers, Safe & Sure Seal is designed for importers who want to differentiate their products from substandard offerings commonly found in online marketplaces. -
INDEPENDENT VERIFICATION:
Products are rigorously tested at our UKAS accredited facility in Soham, Cambridgeshire, ensuring they meet the highest safety standards. -
ENHANCED CONSUMER CONFIDENCE:
With the Safe & Sure Seal, consumers can trust that the products they purchase are safe and conform to UK safety standards, reducing the risk of injury from falls from height.
Key Benefits
For IMPORTERS
CREDIBILITY:
Demonstrate your commitment to safety with an independent certification.
MARKET DIFFERENTIATION:
Stand out from overseas competitors with substandard products.
CONSUMER TRUST:
Shift the conversation from “trust me” to “trust the evidence.”
Key benefits
For CONSUMERS
INFORMED CHOICES:
Easily identify products that meet safety standards.
PEACE OF MIND:
Avoid the risk of injury from unsafe ladders and towers.
VERIFIED SAFETY:
Trust that the products you buy are genuinely compliant with EN standards.
Certification process
1.
Initial product assessment:
- Comprehensive evaluation against applicable product standards.
- Physical testing at our UKAS accredited test facility.
- Review of any existing manufacturer testing or certification.
2.
Initial head office assessment:
- Examination of procurement management systems.
- Evaluation of inspection criteria and supplier assessments.
3.
Ongoing surveillance:
- Regular risk-based audits to ensure continued compliance.
- Issuance of a unique certificate and Safe & Sure Seal upon successful completion.
Recognition and credibility
Safe & Sure is endorsed by the Ladder Association and PASMA, lead industry bodies in their respective sectors. We aim to also have the scheme recognised by the Office for Product Safety & Standards and the Health & Safety Executive.
With a foundation built on industry expertise and collaboration with enforcement authorities, the Safe & Sure Seal stands as a credible mark of quality and safety.
Marketing and support
Certified products gain access to:
-
The Safe & Sure Seal:
The Safe & Sure Seal: A mark of quality to display on your products. -
Webpage promotion:
Visibility on our dedicated certification webpage. -
Brand guidelines:
Clear instructions on how to use the Seal effectively -
Industry promotion:
Endorsement by the Ladder Association & PASMA to its members.
Future-proofing and adaptability
The Safe & Sure Seal scheme will evolve with industry changes and regulatory updates. Our involvement in relevant product standards committees ensures that we are at the forefront of developments, ready to guide our clients through any transitions.
Current seal schemes
Portable Ladders:
The Ladder Association has developed this scheme for ladders in the EN 131 family of standards. These include:
- Leaning ladders (e.g. single section, extension or rope-operated ladders)
- Standing ladders (e.g. swing back steps, platform steps)
- Combination ladders (e.g. ladders that be used in leaning and standing mode)
- Telescopic ladders
- Single and multiple hinge-joint ladders
Scaffold towers:
PASMA has developed this scheme for scaffold tower standards. These include:
- Mobile access and working towers (EN 1004 Parts 1 and 2)
- Prefabricated tower scaffolds (BS 1139-6)
Aimed at importers who bring and safe products into the UK, Safe & Sure Seal holders can demonstrate their quality products in a challenging market.
Safe & Sure Seal Holders
| Safe & Sure Seal No. | Certificate Holder | Standard | Product Type | Name / SKU’s | Date of expiry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SS001 | UTS Sales & Repairs Ltd | BS EN 1004-1:2020 BS EN 1004-2:2021 PASMA Compatibility Protocol | Mobile Access and Working tower | Hybrid tower: UTS 500 Compatibility Ladder Tower Compatible tower: UTS 500 Ladder 1450/850 Tower Other tower: BoSS Ladderspan 3T/AGR | 18/06/28 |
| SS002 | UTS Sales & Repairs Ltd | BS EN 1004-1:2020 BS EN 1004-2:2021 PASMA Compatibility Protocol | Mobile Access and Working tower | Hybrid tower: UTS 250 Foldout 700 Compatibility Compatible tower: UTS 250 Foldout 700 Other tower: BoSS RoomMate | 28/03/29 |
Get certified today!
Join the Safe & Sure Seal certification scheme and demonstrate your commitment to product safety and quality. Contact us to start the certification process and provide your customers and consumers with the assurance they need.
