Ladders should be the last choice as a means of access or place of work when you think about your work at height. See assessing all work at height.
However, you can use ladders if more suitable work equipment is not justified because of the low risk and short duration. Short duration is between 15 and 30 minutes, depending on the task.
Ladders can also be used for low-risk work where there are features on the site that mean a ladder must be used because a safer option is not possible.
Key ladder safety issues are:
Many accidents result from using a ladder for a job where a tower scaffold or mobile elevating work platform would have been safer and more efficient.
When you are deciding how to do a job at height safely, you should start by trying to avoid doing it at height if you can. Look to use other safer methods such as scaffolding, tower scaffolds or podium steps where you can.
Ladders should be your last choice, because they neither prevent nor mitigate a fall. If there is no other access equipment more suitable, a ladder may be used as long as the person using it is competent to do so.
If you do use ladders, make sure they are:
A leaning ladder in good condition has:
Make sure ladders are:
People using ladders or step ladder should be competent to do so and follow sensible rules on safe use of ladders.
Ladder users should:
They should not:
