Ladder Safety Guidelines Inspecting the Condition of Ladders

Article 6 /7. Ladder Safety Guidelines Inspecting the Condition of Ladders. Employers need to make sure that any ladder or stepladder is both suitable for the work task and in a safe condition. However, the employee or user of the ladder also has a duty to inspect the work equipment before attempting the task in order to prevent harm both to himself or others.


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Ladder Safety Guidelines Inspecting the Condition of Ladders

Employers need to make sure that any ladder or stepladder is both suitable for the work task and in a safe condition before use.

As a guide, the HSE recommends that operatives should only use ladders or stepladders that:

  • Have no visible defects. They should have a pre-use check each working day.
  • Have an up-to-date record of the detailed visual inspections carried out regularly by a competent person. These should be done in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. (Ladders that are part of a scaffold system still have to be inspected every seven days as part of the scaffold inspection requirements).
  • Are suitable for the intended use, ie are strong and robust enough for the job.
  • Have been maintained and stored in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. (i.e. not just thrown into the back of a van with other tools and equipment piled on top).

A detailed visual inspection is similar to pre-use checks, in that it is used to spot defects and can be done on site by a competent employee.

  • Pre-use checks make sure that a ladder is safe to use and are for the immediate benefit of the ladder user.
  • These checks do not need to be recorded. Any problems or issues should be reported to a manager.

Detailed visual inspections are the responsibility of the employer. They should be carried out at fixed intervals and recorded. Records of these inspections provide a snapshot of the state of the ladders over time.

When doing an inspection, look for:

  • Damaged or worn ladder feet.
  • Twisted, bent or dented stiles.
  • Cracked, worn, bent or loose rungs.
  • Missing or damaged tie rods.
  • Cracked or damaged welded joints, loose rivets or damaged stays.

Pre-use checks and inspections of ladder stability devices and other accessories should be performed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.


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Ladder Safety Guidelines Inspecting the Condition of Ladders
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Source: https://www.hse.gov.uk/work-at-height/ladders/when-how-to-use-ladders-safely.htm

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