THIS is the hard-hitting message to workers for south coast construction company Willmott Dixon.

The thought-provoking safety poster is part of the firm's bid to gear up for new safety regulations on the use of ladders at building sites.

Group senior safety inspector Jim Higham said: "The new legislation, which comes into force later this year, requires a written risk assessment to be carried out before a ladder is used on a site.

"The poster is an important part of our strategy to encourage site workers to think whether a ladder is the best and safest form of access to high areas, or whether they can use other means such as a cherry-picker or scaffolding.

"The poster pre-empts the regulations by encouraging site workers to ask themselves, 'do I need to use a ladder?' We hope to encourage them to start thinking of alternatives."

Other companies can use the poster, which is available without the Willmott Dixon logo and can be obtained by e-mailing bridget.sawford@willmottdixon.co.uk