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Ladder Safety
Ladder Safety
A toolbox talk on leaning ladder and stepladder safety
This paper can be used to help improve the competence of
workers using leaning ladders and stepladders across all
industry sectors. The paper is divided into three sections,
¦ hazards and pre-use checks;
¦ positioning;
¦ safe use.
Ladders are involved in more falls from height than any
other kind of work equipment. Usually the accident could
have been avoided and training is a key step in encouraging
people to use them safely. This paper can help but additional
training may be required to give a full level of competence.
For existing users the paper can be used as a refresher.
We have made it clear where the paper applies to leaning ladders,
stepladders or both.
Before you start
Training is only one part of managing the risks from working
at height. All employers should have procedures in place to
ensure that ladders are only used where other safer means
of access cannot reasonably be used.
The following points must be considered before site works
begin:
¦ identify all types of work where work at height is
necessary;
¦ assess whether the work can be done without the need
to work at height.
Where the work has to be done at height:
¦ identify if other safer means of access can be used such as:
- tower scaffolds; or
- powered access such as a cherry picker or a
scissor lift;
¦ identify the remaining work for which ladders can still be
used. Restrict this to short-duration, light-duty work
based on a suitable assessment of the risks;
¦ for more guidance consult any method statements or
risk assessments.
You should also have procedures in place for:
¦ choosing the right ladders for the job (length and
strength);
¦ identifying each ladder so that you can keep track of it;
¦ routine, recorded inspections of ladders and a
procedure for withdrawing unsafe ladders from use;
¦ secure storage away from sources of accidental
damage;
¦ providing adequate supervision by competent people.
Using the paper
Not all of the paper may be relevant to your site - leave out the
parts that are not. There may also be some risks that apply
to your site that have not been included. Before using the
paper, check its contents against your own risk assessment of
ladder use on your site and add any information that you
think is necessary.
Identify the people who use ladders and should read the
paper and put what they hear into practice.
The person who delivers ladder safety training should:
¦ be a good speaker;
¦ be committed to what they say;
¦ be able to demonstrate safe use of the ladders and
accessories used; and
¦ know enough about the safe use of ladders to be able
to answer any questions that may be asked.
While the talk can be read as written, it is important that
whoever delivers it is comfortable with the language used.
Where they are not, it should be modified to suit their own
style of delivery. It can be delivered on site but try to make
sure that there is minimal disruption.
Notes for employers
A toolbox talk on leaning ladder and stepladder safety
Every year an average of 14 people die and a further 1200 are
seriously injured at work as a result of falling from a leaning
ladder or stepladder. Here are examples of such accidents.
¦ A joiner working from a leaning ladder to replace a
gutter applied force to the guttering to free it from a
bracket, lost his balance and fell 4 m. He broke a bone
in his back resulting in 10 days in hospital and 6 months
off work. He can now only do light work that does not
involve heavy lifting.
¦ During refurbishment of a warehouse a contractor
placed a wooden leaning ladder between two stands of
pallet racking. The ladder was leaning at an angle of 45°
with the top against one rack and the bottom against
another, to stop it from slipping. The ladder broke under
the user’s weight, causing him to fall to the ground and
fracture his skull.
¦ A self-employed electrician was working from the
second from top rung of a 2 m-high industrial aluminium
stepladder. He was over-reaching while operating a
power drill and lost his balance, falling onto the concrete
floor. He fractured his skull and right heel, and was off
work for three months.
By reading this document and putting what you read into
practice you can help make sure these sort of accidents do
not happen to you.
¦ hazards and pre-use checks;
¦ positioning;
¦ safe use.
When the advice mentions ‘ladders’ in the heading, the
section refers to both leaning ladders and stepladders.
Introducing the toolbox talk
Hazards
Has anyone here fallen from a stepladder or a leaning
ladder, witnessed a colleague have such a fall or been made
aware of such an incident?
Notes for speaker Discuss the circumstances of the
accident including what caused the fall and how it could
have been avoided.
What are the reasons people fall from leaning ladders
and stepladders?
Notes for speaker Answers should include:
¦ the leaning ladder slipping either at the top or bottom;
¦ the leaning ladder flipping over or coming away at the top;
¦ overstretching;
¦ a fault with the ladder;
¦ slipping or loosing your footing;
¦ stepladder wobbles due to missing feet or not being
correctly open;
¦ stepladder being used side-on to the work task.
Some of these will be a result of bad planning or use of
the wrong piece of equipment for the job.
You do not need to fall from a great height to be badly
injured. More people get injuries such as broken arms or
legs falling less than 2 m from a ladder than falling from
above this height. For example, a person was killed when
they lost their footing on the second rung of a ladder and fell
backwards, hitting their head on the floor.
Pre-use checks
All the company’s ladders have been individually
identified. Don’t use any other ladder, including any brought
from home or belonging to other companies.
Notes for speaker Explain how ladders are individually
identified.
Every time you use a ladder check it beforehand to
make sure it is safe to use. Frequently used ladders only
need one such check a day - except for checking the feet
when moving from soft/dirty ground to a clean area. Do you
know what to look for?
Notes for speaker Answers should include:
¦ missing, damaged or worn anti-slip feet on metal and
fibreglass ladders (these are essential for good grip);
¦ items stuck in the feet such as swarf, stones grease or
dirt, preventing the feet from making direct contact with
the ground;
¦ mud, grease or oil either on the rungs or the stiles (the
sides);
¦ cracks in the rungs or stiles of the ladder;
¦ missing, broken or weakened rungs;
¦ missing or damaged tie rods;
¦ check metal ladders for cracked or damaged welds and
missing or loose screws or rivets.
If you see any of these do not use the ladder or try and
repair it yourself. Remove it from use and report it.
Notes for speaker Explain how to remove the ladder and
who to report the problem to.
It is important to have clear on-site arrangements for
storing ladders safely. Discuss and agree what your storage
arrangements are - they should meet the manufacturer’s
recommendations.
Section 1 Hazards and pre-use checks
Positioning all types of ladder
Do not position a ladder:
¦ where it can be knocked by a door or window - unless
the door or window is secured. If this is impractical, have
a person standing guard at a doorway, or inform workers
not to open windows until they are told to do so;
¦ where it may get struck by a passing vehicle;
¦ within 6 m of an overhead power line (unless the lines
have been temporarily disconnected or insulated).
Check each foot is on a clean, level, firm footing and
look out for oil, grease or loose material, including plastic
packaging and sheeting.
Make sure the ladder is at the correct height, never use
boxes or bricks etc to gain extra height.
Positioning leaning ladders
Avoid placing ladders on side or back slopes, particularly
if the surface is wet. Ladders should not be used on a
suitable surface where the side slope is greater than 16° or
the back slope is greater than 6° (see Figure 1), unless the
manufacturer states otherwise. The rungs should always look
horizontal and appropriate levelling devices may be used.
Figure 1 Ladder showing maximum angles at 160 on a slide slope
and 60 on a back slope
To erect a ladder, place its foot against a fixed object
such as a wall and raise the other end by progressing hand
over hand, from rung to rung, until it is upright.
Make sure the ladder is erected the right way up. If it is
wooden ensure the tie rods are underneath the rungs, if it is
aluminium check the rung profile is the right way round.
When erected, the ladder must be at an angle of 75° as
this is the best angle for stability. Use the angle indicator
marked on the stiles of some ladders or the 1 in 4 rule (1
unit for every 4 units up, as shown in Figure 2).
Figure 2 Ladder showing correct 1 in 4 angle (means of securing
omitted for clarity)
If you cannot achieve this angle, because the ladder is too
short, too long or something is in the way, then don’t use it.
If the top of a ladder is 6 m up a wall how far out from
the wall should the base be?
Notes for speaker Answer 1.5 m
Do not place the top of a ladder against a fragile surface
such as plastic guttering or glazing as this might give way
and cause instability.
Don’t stand on the top three rungs. Always try and
make sure a ladder extends at least 1 m (or three rungs)
above where you will be working.
If you are using a ladder for access, make sure it rises
to at least 1 m (or three rungs) above the landing place. But
make sure it does not project so far above that it could pivot
around the landing point.
Levelling
device
Section 2 Positioning
Positioning stepladders
Check all four feet are in contact with the ground.
Try and position stepladders with the rungs facing the
work activity and not side-on, as this is less stable .
Make sure the stepladder is the correct length. Don’t
use the top two steps of a stepladder unless it has a
suitable handrail . Don’t use the top three
steps of swing-back or double-sided stepladders where a
step forms the very top of the stepladder.
This should ensure a handhold is readily available
A toolbox talk on leaning ladder and stepladder safety
Safe use of all types of ladders
1 Only use ladders for light-duty, short duration work which
has been approved by the responsible person.
2 You could, for example, use a ladder for wiring a security
light or replacing a bulb. However, avoid strenuous work such as
freeing a seized nut, installing a run of cable trays or removing a
heavy object as any sudden release can cause you to lose your
balance and fall.
3 Do not use a ladder if you have a medical condition, or
are taking medication that could affect your safety, or you
are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
4 Make sure you have the right footwear, ie clean, in good
condition and without dangling laces.
5 When going up or down a ladder, take each rung one at
a time and don’t rush. Use both hands to grip the ladder
whenever possible.
6 On nearing the bottom, watch where you place your feet.
Make sure you do not miss the lower rungs as you step off.
7 When working from a ladder, try and maintain three points
of contact with it at all times (eg both feet and one hand).
8 Don’t carry heavy or awkward shaped objects on a
ladder. Never carry loads heavier than 25 kg - any over
10 kg should be avoided if possible. This includes long
lengths of lightweight material such as plastic guttering,
which can be passed up by a second person instead.
Notes for speaker Where toolbelts have been issued,
explain that they are to avoid having to carry tools by hand
up or down a ladder.
9 If you have to carry an item up or down, you must keep
one hand free to grip the ladder.
Section 3 Safe use of all types of ladder
A toolbox talk on leaning ladder and stepladder safety
Do not overreach. Move the ladder so that you can keep
your belt buckle (navel) inside the stiles and both feet on the
same rung throughout the task. Do not place a foot on another
surface, such as a window frame, to extend your reach.
When working on or close to electrical equipment that
is live or may become live, use ladders that will not conduct
electricity, such as those with fibreglass stiles.
Do not throw things from ladders.
Safe use of leaning ladders
Wherever possible, tie a ladder to prevent it from slipping.
This can either be at the top, the bottom or both, making sure
both stiles are tied. Never tie a ladder by its rungs.
Notes for speaker Ask which method is the preferred
option in their workplace.
If you can’t tie the ladder use an ‘effective ladder’ or one
with an ‘effective ladder-stability device’. This means a ladder or
ladder-stability device that the suppliers or manufacturers can
confirm will be stable enough to use unsecured in your worstcase
scenario.
If the precautions suggested in paragraphs 15 and 16
of this section are not possible then you can wedge the
stiles against a wall or other similar heavy object or, as a
last resort, have a second person foot the ladder.
A toolbox talk on leaning ladder and stepladder safety
Remember to check that all the basic conditions for
safety have been met. This is particularly important if the
ladder is not tied. Can you remember what they are?
Notes for speaker Answers should include the following.
¦ The ground is level, firm and free from anything that
may cause the ladder to slip.
¦ The ladder is at the correct 1 in 4 angle.
¦ You can hold on with both hands when climbing up or
down.
¦ The work does not involve using both hands, overreaching
or working above three rungs from the top.
Safe use of stepladders
Make sure the legs are fully open before you go up.
When working from a stepladder, always make sure you
have an available handhold. This means having a suitable
handrail or not working off the top two or three rungs,
depending on the design of the stepladder.
Avoid working side-on from a stepladder, especially
when applying force, such as when drilling.
For higher-risk work, such as applying a side-on-force
that cannot be avoided, you should prevent the steps from
tipping over, for example by tying the steps to a suitable point.
Stepladders should not be used as a means of access
to another level, such as a roof (unless they have been
designed for this) as they can become unstable when you
are stepping on or off them.
This page was created on: 10/03/2007
Last modified: 10/03/2007
