In 1998 The Labour Inspectorate in Sweden carried out a campaign aiming to improve safety in the use of ladders and scaffolds. Altogether 2100 worksites were inspected by 311 Labour Inspectors. Around 2000 defects were found and recorded, 85% concerning ladders and 15% scaffolds. The most common single defect concerned missing or defective antiskid devices at the foot of ladders. One third of the faults found in scaffolding involved defective or missing guardrails. The campaign that was performed together with the Swedish Consumer Agency, received much attention in the media. The two authorities jointly published a brochure focussing on the safe use of ladders.
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