Ladder safety is crucial.

Anyone operating at height should know ladder safety. Injury can occur at unexpectedly low elevations while falling from ladders.

Many jobs require ladders and stepladders, including:

Construction– Construction workers utilize ladders/stepladders for work at height. They can employ different height ladders/stepladders.

Agricultural and horticultural workers employ ladders and stepladders. Gardeners use ladders to trim shrubs and collect fruit.

Self-employed roofers utilize ladders to access roofs. Roofing requires special ladders.

Maintenance personnel utilize ladders for short-term jobs.

Landscapers, gardeners, builders, window cleaners, electricians, decorators, and plasterers utilize ladders and stepladders for work at height, e.g. to adorn a ceiling.

Which risks and causes are more important?

Overreaching can cause a ladder to tip and harm a person's balance.

Overloaded ladders can tip or buckle. The equipment must support the person's weight and tools/materials.

Not maintaining 3 points of contact can make a ladder unstable and disrupt the balance. This is a problem when transporting stuff up/down a ladder.

Not completely extending stepladders, not fastening extension ladders, or not having a 1:4 leaning ladder.

Unsuitable equipment can fall a ladder/stepladder. This happens when the ladder/stepladder is too short, and workers stand on the top 3 rungs.

Damaged or malfunctioning ladders might shatter during usage.

Uneven terrain makes ladders/stepladders unstable. Metal drain covers can make ladders/stepladders slide.

Rain, ice, snow, and severe winds can make a ladder/stepladder slippery and unstable.

Unsuitable footwear might cause ladder slips.

Unsecured leaning ladders can shift sideways or outwards.

Lack of training and competency — If a worker doesn't know how to examine ladders for damage/defects or handle ladders properly, falls are more likely.

Other dangers include:

Objects can fall when working on a ladder or stepladder. Dropped things can hit people. Falling objects from overhead can impact someone on a ladder/stepladder.

Some ladders, especially leaning/extendable ladders, can be lengthy and touch electrical wires. Good conductors like aluminium ladders can electrocute employees on them. A ladder worker who gets an electric shock might fall.

Vehicle and pedestrian traffic might be dangerous while using a ladder or stepladder. If a car or person hits a ladder/stepladder while someone is working at height, they risk falling.

Ladder and stepladder accidents can cause —

Falls from height, electrocution, and falling items can kill.

Fall-related organ and spine/neck injury. Falling items can cause brain damage from head traumas.

Falls can cause many fractures and ligament/tendon injuries. Falling items can fracture skulls.

Fall-related bruises, cuts, grazes, sprains, and strains.

Psychological injuries - A person might suffer from mental health issues after a significant accident.

The degree of injuries from ladder/stepladder falls on the height and what they land on. People have been gravely hurt from falls less than 1 metre high. More risk, the higher the ladder.

Falls from height cause the most occupational deaths and injuries.

Ladder Dos

Risk-assess if ladders are the best tool for the job.

Check the ladder.

Pre-use inspection

Make sure the ladder is locked before use.

Lightwork only on ladders

Stop ladder drops

Short-term ladder work only

Make sure you're fit enough to utilize a ladder

Follow the manufacturer's directions

Wear PPE

Safety Ladder Don'ts Leverage a ladder

Stiles

Long-term ladder use

Top 3 ladder rungs/steps

Standing on rungs, move or extend leaning ladders.

Stabilize ladders

Ladder-throwing

Work near conductors

Damaged ladder

Stepladder as a single ladder

Weather-proof ladders

Stand ladders on vehicles, etc.

Load the ladder with tools.

Risk assessment steps

Before working at height or in a new area, conduct a risk assessment. Five stages are needed for ladder risk evaluation (although you may come across other methods). Steps include:

danger detection

Who and how the hazard might harm

Assessing threats and determining precautions

Risk assessment findings recorded

When needed, revise the risk assessment.

Risk evaluations are crucial.

Never be too careful with ladders. As we've seen, a 1-meter fall may be dangerous. Using everyday items like ladders safely requires rigorous risk evaluations.