Leaning ladders

With the best of intentions….

During the Height Aware campaign inspectors were on the look out for good and bad practice for work at height.

At one company visited, a manager thought it would be a good idea to limit the height that workers could climb by cutting the top four rungs off the ladder.

This seemed like a good idea to limit the risk of injury, until they looked at what this did to the integrity of the ladder. The inspector made sure that the ladder was disposed of.

Before use

First ask yourself: am I fit to work at height? Then think about the condition and the position of the ladder.

A leaning ladder in good condition has:

Both feet firmly attached and with a good tread
Clean rungs
Undamaged stiles (the side pieces that the rungs are attached to)
Secure fastenings when it is extended

A leaning ladder in a good position:

Is at an angle of 75° - one unit out for every four units up, see good practice in pictures
Will not move at the bottom, see good practice in pictures
Stands on a surface that is:
- firm
- level, see good practice in pictures
- clear
- Dry
- not slippery
Will not move at the top, see good practice in pictures
Rests on a strong upper resting point (not plastic guttering or a window)
Has horizontal rungs (use a spirit level)

In use

Only work on a ladder for a maximum of 15 - 30 minutes at a time
Only carry light materials and tools (up to 10 kg)
Always grip the ladder when climbing
Do not overreach - make sure your belt buckle (navel) stays within the stiles
Keep both feet on the same rung or step throughout the task
Do not work off the top three rungs - this provides a handhold
Try to keep three points of contact with the ladder

Is a ladder right for the job?

If you are not sure that it is right to use a ladder speak to your supervisor or the safety representative.

Employers and self employed people contact HSE Infoline on 0845 345 0055

Leaning ladders

With the best of intentions….

Is a ladder right for the job?

Further reading