Ladder Safety
07 August, 2007
The UK HSE has developed ladder safety programs to increase general awareness
of the risks involved in ladder use and promote sensible health and safety.
The effort to introduce a hierarchy for use when planning and risk-assessing work at height
is part of an ongoing campaign to reduce the number of fatal and major injuries that result
from falling from a height.
Many of these incidents can be avoided by taking simple precautions. Anyone involved
in working at height must use the right equipment for the job and use it safely.
A ladder should only be used where a risk assessment demonstrates that the task is low risk
and of short duration, or where there are existing features on site that cannot be altered
and the use of other equipment is not practical. (Such features include restricted space preventing other equipment from being put in place correctly or ground conditions that mean that there
is no suitable area to set up alternative equipment.)
When it comes to increasing ladder safety, always ask yourself three simple questions:
> Do you need a ladder or should you use something different?
> Is it the right ladder?
> Are you using the ladder safely?
Both employers and workers should consider how to avoid work at height. If this is not possible,
they should take steps to prevent a fall occurring.
Where they cannot prevent a fall, they should take steps to minimise the distance and consequences of a fall.
HSE has published the following guidance specifically for employers and workers who use ladders:
Top tips for ladder safety http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg405.pdf
Safe use of ladder and stepladders - an employers guide http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg402.pdf