Leaning Ladder & Stepladder Safety

1. Working at Height
Leaning Ladder &
Stepladder Safety

2. The aim of this Toolbox Talk
 Legislation Overview
 Accident Statistics
 Hazards and Pre-Use Checks
 Positioning
 Safe Use

3. Legislation Overview
There are various pieces of Legislation that apply to
Working at Height:
 Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
 Work at Height Regulations 2005 (as amended)
 Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998
 Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations
1999

4. Accidents involving Ladders
Many of these injuries are
caused by inappropriate or
incorrect use of the equipment
1/3of all reported fall-from-
height incidents involve
ladders and stepladders
They account for approximately
14deaths and 1,200 major
injuries to workers each year.

5. Hazards
What are the reasons people fall from ladders and stepladders?
• The leaning ladder slipping 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

6. You don’t necessarily have to fall from a great
height to be badly injured. Most injuries are
caused by falls from less than 2m – commonly
causing broken arms or legs and in some
instances death.
Hazards

7. Pre-Use Checks
Don’t use any other ladder, including those brought from home or
belonging to other companies. All the company’s ladders have been
individually identified.
Every time you use a ladder
check it beforehand to make sure
it is safe to use.

8. Pre-Use Checks
What should you look
for?
•Missing, damaged or worn anti-slip feet (essential for good grip)
•Items stuck in the feet (swarf, stones, grease or dirt) that prevent feet
from making contact with the ground
•Mud, grease or oil on the rungs or stiles (the sides)
•Cracks in the rungs or stiles of the ladder
•Missing or damaged tie rods
•Missing, broken or weakened rungs
•Check metal ladders for cracked or damaged
welds and missing or loose screws or rivets

9. Pre-Use Checks
If you see any of these do not use the
ladder or try to repair it.
Remove it from use and REPORT IT

10. Positioning
All Types of Ladder

11. Positioning – All types of ladder
1. Do not position a ladder:
• Within 6m of an overhead power line (unless the lines have been
temporarily disconnected or insulated)
• Where it can be knocked by a door or window – unless the door
or window is secured.
• Where it may get struck by a passing vehicle

12. Positioning – All types of ladder
3. Check each foot is on a clean, level, firm footing and look out for oil, grease
or loose material, including plastic packaging and sheeting.
2. Make sure the ladder is at the correct height, never use boxes or bricks etc
to gain extra height.

13. Positioning
Leaning Ladders

14. Positioning Leaning Ladders
1. 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° unless the
manufacturer states otherwise.
The rungs should always look horizontal – use an appropriate levelling device if
you have any doubt.

15. Positioning Leaning Ladders
2. 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.
3. 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.
2. 3.

16. Positioning Leaning Ladders
4. When erected, the ladder must be at an angle of 75° as this is the best angle
for stability.
5. 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.

17. Positioning Leaning Ladders
6. Don’t place the ladder against a fragile surface such as plastic guttering or
glazing as it may give way.
7. Don’t stand on the top 3 rungs – ensure ladder extends at least 1m (or 3
rungs) above where you will be working.

18. Positioning
Stepladders

19. Positioning Stepladders
1. Check all 4 feet are in contact with the ground.
3. 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.
2. Rungs should face the work activity and not side-on.

20. Questions
Q1. When positioning a leaning ladder what should you check for?
Q2. When positioning a stepladder what should you check for?
Are there any more questions?

21. General Safety Tips - All Types Of Ladders
Only use ladders for light-duty, short duration work
Watch where you place your feet at the bottom, making sure you don’t miss
the lower rungs as you step off
Make sure you have the correct footwear, i.e. clean, in good
condition, no dangling laces
Take each rung one at a time, don’t rush and use both hands to grip
Try and maintain 3 points of contact at all times (e.g. both feet and one hand)

22. General Safety Tips - All Types Of Ladders
Don’t use a ladder if you are taking medication, have a
medical condition or are under the influence of drugs or
alcohol
Don’t carry awkward or heavy objects on a ladder. Never carry loads heavier than
25kg – any over 10kg should be avoided if possible.
Don’t overreach – keep both feet on the same rung throughout the task.
Never place a foot on another surface such as a window frame to extend your
reach
When working with or close to electrical equipment ensure you use a
ladder/stepladder made from non-conductive material i.e. Fibreglass.

23. Questions
Q1. What types of work can a leaning ladder be used for?
Q2. What types of work can a stepladder be used for?

24. General Safety Tips - Leaning Ladders
When possible tie a ladder to prevent it slipping.
This can be either at the top, bottom or both
If you can’t tie the ladder use an ‘effective ladder’
or one with an ‘effective ladder-stability device’
If the above suggestions 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.

25. Questions
Q1. How and where should a ladder be tied?
Q2. Remember to check all the basic safety conditions are
met. This is particularly important if the ladder is not tied.
Can you remember what they are?

26. General Safety Tips - Stepladders
Make sure the legs are fully open before you go up.
Always make sure you have an available handhold.
Avoid working side-on from a stepladder.
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.

27. Questions
Are there any more questions?
Contains public sector information published by the Health and Safety Executive
and licensed under the Open Government License v1.0’.