Using Ladders at Work

In order to use ladders safely at work and comply with the current legislation a fairly straightforward process has to be followed.

In essence there are four simple steps that you must take in order to use ladders safely at work...

1. Identify the tasks that you or your employees need to carry out at height.

Remember work at height means work in any place from which a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury. That can mean any height and even work underground.

2. Complete a risk assessment for each task to identify the safest work method.

The aim is to establish wether you have an alternative other than to work at height. If not then you need to identify the most suitable work equipment to do the job. If it is a short job, under 30 minutes, or if there are features of the work site that make other equipment impractical then you can use a ladder to do the job. Ladders are not banned from the workplace but you must ensure that they are the most appropriate piece of equipment to use.

3. Ensure that the people using the ladders are competent.

The WAHR is clear on this point - all employers, employees and the self-employed shall ensure that no person engages in any activity in relation to work at height or work equipment unless he or she is competent to do so, or if being trained, is being supervised by a competent person.

Competence can be demonstrated through a variety of means including practical and theoretical knowledge, training and experience. This is important as the quality of the training makes all the difference. ‘Practical and theoretical...’ The training needs both elements so a CD or internet based training course won’t be enough to meet the requirement here, nor will a training course that doesn’t have a strong practical section.

4. Inspect and maintain all your ladders & access equipment.

The Work at Height Regulations (WAHR) 2005 stipulate that regular inspections are conducted by a competent person for all work at height equipment. The records of formal inspections are legally required to be made available to a health and safety inspector. Storage of the records must be made in a way which is accessible but protected from interfering or being tampered with by others.

Again that word competent comes into play and it is pretty crucial in respect to the detailed inspection of ladders that must be completed every 3 or 6 months. Ladder inspectors need to be properly trained including practical and theoretical knowledge, training and experience.

That’s it. If you can tick all four boxes not only are you complying with the current legislation but you are also using ladders safely and responsibly at work. If you have any questions about using ladders at work please email them in and we will add them to the FAQ below.

Frequently Asked Questions About Using Ladders at Work.

Who can do ladder and step ladder training?

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 specify that anyone involved in work at height, including planning and organising the work, must be competent. This means they have the right level of experience and/ or training to identify the risks and do the work safely.

The training and experience should include familiarity with the equipment being used. That means that the training has to have a strong practical element as well as a theoretical element.

Recent court cases have shown that the training delivered to ladder users has fallen short of the legal requirement. In a recent ruling against an employer Christopher Moger QC said:

The fact that stepladders are everyday objects of which most people would be expected to have some experience makes careful training of the less obvious risks associated with their use more rather than less important.

Although there is no legal requirement for the worker to obtain a qualification most employers now use formal training as an indication of competence and the only industry sanctioned qualification is the Ladder Association’s own national training scheme for users, supervisors and managers.

Can an Internet or CD Rom based training course show a user’s competence to safely use ladders?

No, not on it’s own. Competence can be demonstrated through a variety of means including practical and theoretical knowledge, training and experience. This is important as the quality of the training makes all the difference. ‘Practical and theoretical...’ The training needs both elements so a CD or internet based training course won’t be enough to meet the requirement here, nor will a training course that doesn’t have a strong practical section.

Do I need to have a ladder register and tag all of my ladders?

Since you must be able to identify which ladder, or piece of access equipment relates to which inspection record you need a register and a system to keep all the information organised and easily available. Ladder Log products from Ladderstore are specifically designed to do this for ladders and access equipment. It doesn't matter if you are a sole trader or a multi national, the rules apply to all businesses. The Ladder Log system comes with an A4 folder and documentation to quickly set up and maintain a simple system that ensures you comply with the requirements of the Working at Height legislation.

Are there any specific height restrictions where the use of a ladder or step ladder, as a piece of access equipment, is not permitted?

The law does not state heights but clearly the selection of the most appropriate access equipment for a particular task is a requirement of the law. You also have a duty, where working at height cannot be avoided, to take suitable and sufficient measures to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable , any person falling a distance liable to cause personal injury. Work platforms, scaffolding, towers, all offer protection from a fall occurring and there are a multitude of access products available to solve many of the most common access problems. If you are in any doubt call one of our access specialists at Ladderstore on 01204 590 232 to discuss alternative and more suitable access solutions.

Please could you clarify the term "pre use check" in relation to the use of step ladders and ladders?

Prior to undertaking any work from a ladder or step ladder for the first time the user is required to undertake a pre use check. The other requirement is for detailed visual inspections which should be recorded. Pre use checks and detailed visual inspections are both looking for obvious visual defects, they only differ in detail. Both can be done in-house (pre use checks should be part of a user's training).

A pre use check should be carried out by the user; at the beginning of the working day; and after something has changed i.e. ladder dropped or moved from a dirty area to a clean area. The benefit of conducting daily pre use checks is that they provide the opportunity to pick up any immediate/serious defects before they cause an accident.

How frequently do I have to complete detailed visual inspections of my ladders?

Detailed visual and functional ladder inspections, as required under PUWER, should be carried out a set intervals depending on the frequency of use.

Ladders that are subject to frequent use (on a daily basis) should be inspected at least once every 3 months*
Ladders that are subject to occasional use (on a weekly basis) should be inspected at least once every 6 months*
Ladders that are subject to infrequent use (in excess of monthly) should be inspected at least once every 12 months

*Frequency of these inspections should always be in accordance with manufacturer's instructions.

I wish to use a mobile step stool (also known as kick step). Do I need to have attended a ladder safety course?

A step stool is not a ladder and does not have stability issues such as a free standing ladder. You therefore do not need to attend a ladder safety course in order to use one.

However, it would be sensible to examine your step stool or read any manufacturer's instructions that came with it to become familiar with its operation. The step stool is designed not to move when you apply weight to it. As with any work equipment, you should be familiar with it before you use it, and if you are not sure, then you should seek advice from your supervisor. An employer has a duty to ensure that his workforce is competent in working at height and in using work equipment for use in such work.

Do I have to travel to a Ladder Association Approved Training Centre to do the Ladder Association course and get my Ladder Card?

Since Ladderstore is one of the few Ladder Association Training Centres in the country getting to our traiing centre in Bolton, Lancashire might not always be practical.

However, since our trainers are also approved instructors we can come to your site, or set up a training day nearer to your location. You will need to have at least 6 people that you want to train and we can take care of the rest.

Email training@ladderstore.com, or call on 01204 590 232 for more details.