A ladder risk assessment will give you a good idea of the risks your team are exposed to and the controls currently in place. It is an essential requirement when working at height. Whilst you might assume that the use of a ladder is relatively low risk compared to other height safety systems, especially when only in use for a short duration as a form of roof access, you can never assume anything when it comes to risk assessments.
Below we’ll look at the best way to carry out ladder risk assessments and talk about our own Altus Safety ladder compliance tests that ensure your ladder and access system is compliant with the latest height safety regulations.
Why is a ladder risk assessment necessary?
Even a simple ladder can cause major injuries or even death when a full risk assessment isn’t carried out. Risk assessments identify hazards and risks and then put measures in place to prevent those hazards from causing accidents and injuries to people as far as is reasonably practical.
A ladder safety guide becomes very important if you have made changes to your working environment, or had a near-miss incident or a highlighted risk – even if you’ve completed a risk assessment before. It is essential that you take proper precautions when addressing these changes to assess the level of risk and if you are height safety compliant.
What are the rules surrounding ladder risk assessments?
Both employers and employees have a responsibility under the Work at Height Regulations 2005 for ensuring that all work at height safety is in place and adequate before starting work at height.
Ladders should be checked before each use and inspected every 6 months using a competent ladder safety checklist to protect your workers effectively.
The access ladder checklist is vital when making sure all ladders are safe when working at height. A visual inspection should be the first thing to look at, making sure there are no obvious defects. But there are plenty of other steps that ought to be followed to ensure maximum protection for workers.
See below for our downloadable ladder safety guide.
Ladder Safety Checklist: Key Questions To Ask
- Is the ladder suitable for work use, does it have any loose steps/rungs and can they be moved by hand? If so then mark as defective and use an alternative method until it is fixed.
- Can you see loose damaged and corroded nails/screws/bolts or other metal parts, or cracked split or broken stiles, braces, steps or rungs?
- Are there damaged, missing or worn non-slip feet?
- Is the ladder painted? This may hide defects.
- Is the ladder wobbly or unstable? Can you maintain proper balance in a fixed position?
Ensure proper training in the use of ladders
All employers should ensure that workers have received training on safe ladder use and appropriate fall protection. At Altus Safety, we offer training for the proper use of a range of height safety equipment via our Altus 360 program. Reach out today and see if we can support your team in staying safe whilst using ladders.
Consider alternatives
It’s important that alternatives to a ladder have been considered (e.g., fixed-access ladder, caged access ladders, PEWP, scaffold, work repositioning, etc.). Making sure a ladder is deemed most suitable for the task is vital to ensure its safe use and suitability to the task at hand. If there is a second ladder, the ladder type (step, extension, platform, etc.) must be checked to ensure it is suitable for the task.
Basic ladder risk assessment checks for employees and employers:
Below are just some of the more basic tests and checks that ought to be carried out before using any ladder. Ensure that:
- The ladder is secured from movement and stable, it should have a firm level base that is secured where possible and is tied at the top to an available structure.
- Material and/or tools can be raised or lowered by using a tool belt or rope in order to keep hands free.
- Three-point contact can be maintained while climbing to use the ladder safely.
- Traffic in the area of the base and top is controlled.
- Enough space is left at the base for proper ladder angle (for temporary ladders only).
- If your task requires staying up a leaning ladder or stepladder for 30 minutes or more, you look into alternative safety equipment.
Key areas of the ladder to inspect
According to the Health and Safety Executive, a full check of a ladder should commence before each use. They recommend targeting the following parts of the ladder in your checks:
- the stiles – ensure they haven’t buckled or caved
- the feet – make sure they aren’t missing or damaged and ensure these are checked when moving the ladder if it is portable to prevent dirt and debris from sticking to the bottom of the feet
- the rungs – ensure they aren’t loose, missing, worn or bent
They also offer further guidance for stepladders in their safe use of ladders and stepladders guide.
How Altus Safety Can Help
Hopefully our guide today helps you know where you stand when it comes to height safety and the safe use of ladders. If nothing else, it should serve as a reminder that ladder risk assessments aren’t a ‘one and done’ thing – you need to be constantly reviewing your ladder usage to ensure the safety of everyone on site.
In order to help your business/workplace comply with legislation and to establish the best solutions for your requirements, Altus Safety can provide expert assistance by carrying out professional site surveys and height safety risk assessments. Call us on 0330 113 0870 or contact us here.