Tauranga MP bans ladders

Multi-purpose ladders that do not meet Australia and New Zealand safety standards have been banned by Simon Bridges, Minister of Consumer Affairs.

The ban comes after an investigation by Consumer Affairs which found that multi-purpose ladders sold on Trade Me collapsed well below their advertised weight limit.

"The metal in one of these ladders buckled and split, collapsing only seconds after a man climbed on it. The ladder was supposed to hold up to 150kg and the man was only 90kgs," Mr Bridges said.

Consumer Affairs tested similar types of these ladders and found they all failed.

Mr Bridges said the aluminium construction was very thin and may have contributed to the collapse.

"It is unacceptable that the public should be at significant risk of injury from multi-purpose ladders that do not meet Australian and New Zealand safety standards, which is why I have, after consideration, declared an Unsafe Goods Notice."

The Unsafe Goods Notice for Multi-purpose Ladders prohibits the sale or supply of multi-purpose ladders which do not comply with the safety standard. The notice is issued under section 31 of the Fair Trading Act and will be enforced by the New Zealand Customs Service at the border and the Commerce Commission in the marketplace.

Breaches of an unsafe goods notice attract penalties of up to $60,000 for an individual and up to $200,000 for a company.

The ban will come into effect for a period of eighteen months from 22 November 2012, after which time it will be reviewed.