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

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
Notes for speaker:
Discuss if anybody has fallen from a ladder or stepladder and the circumstances of the accident – what caused the fall and how it could have been avoided?
Some of the reasons above will be a result of bad planning or use of the wrong piece of equipment for the job.
Stepladder being used side-on to the work task

6. Hazards
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.

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.
Notes for speaker:
Frequently used ladders only need to be checked once per day – except for the feet when moving from soft/dirty ground to a clean area

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, broken or weakened rungs
Missing or damaged tie rods
Check metal ladders for cracked or damaged welds and missing or loose screws or rivets

9. Remove it from use and REPORT IT
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 
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.
Summarise the main points learnt by the team and complete attendance records.

10. Positioning
All Types of Ladder

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

12. Positioning – All types of ladder
2. Make sure the ladder is at the correct height, never use boxes or bricks etc to gain extra height.
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.

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.
Notes for speaker:
Use the angle indicator marked on the stiles of some ladders or the 1 in 4 rule.
Question - If the top of a ladder is 6m up a wall how far out from the wall should the base be?
Answer – 1.5m

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.
Notes for speaker:
If using a ladder for access, make sure it rises to at least 1m (or 3 rungs) above the landing place. But make sure it does not project so far above that it could pivot around the landing point.

18. Positioning
Stepladders

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

20. Q1. When positioning a leaning ladder what should you check for?
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?
Notes for speaker:
Q1 – Check that point 3 is mentioned from Positioning All Types of Ladder section, and points 1, 6 and 7 are mentioned from the Positioning Leaning Ladders section
Q2 – Check the points 1, 2 and 3 are mentioned from Stepladder Positioning section

21. General Safety Tips - All Types Of Ladders
Only use ladders for light-duty, short duration work
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
Watch where you place your feet at the bottom, making sure you don’t miss the lower rungs as you step off
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. Q1. What types of work can a leaning ladder be used for?
Questions
Q1. What types of work can a leaning ladder be used for?
Q2. What types of work can a stepladder be used for?
Notes for speaker:
Q1. Check the answers against the list of tasks identified by the company as suitable for ladder use
Q2. Check the answers against the list of tasks identified by the company as suitable for ladder use

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.
Notes for speaker:
Point 1 – Make sure both stiles are tied. Never tie a ladder by its rungs.
Point 2 – This means a ladder or ladder-stability device that the suppliers or manufacturers can confirm will be stable enough to use unsecured in your worst-case scenario.
If ladder-stability devices are used, explain when and how they are to be used

25. Q1. How and where should a ladder be tied?
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?
Notes for speaker:
Q1. Check the answer given is the company’s preferred way.
Q2. 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, over-reaching or working about three rungs from the top.

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.
Notes for speaker:
Point 2. This means having a suitable handrail or not working off the top two or three rungs, depending on the design of the stepladder.
Point 3. 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.

27. 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’.