Ladder Safety at Work and at Home

Ladders are often used at work and at home to get access to higher or lower levels in order to carry out light tasks. But every year many serious injuries occur at work and at home in falls from ladders.

In a work environment, your organisation must do everything "reasonably practicable" to eliminate or minimise WHS risk in the workplace (Section 18 WHS Act 2011) and that obviously includes risks from the use of ladders in the workplace. All risks, apparent or even only likely must be addressed and directors and CEOs must organise their leadership team to consult all person in the workplace who may be affected by a WHS matter before making any decisions on the matter.

The WHS Code of Practice, Managing the Risks of Falls at Workplaces April 2016, that is available on SafeWork NSW’s website, is an excellent source of reference on the safe use of ladders. Victorian workplaces may prefer to use the publication that is on WorkSafe Victoria’s website titled, Information about Prevention of Falls – Ladders.

Both publications have helpful diagrams and pictures and cover topics such as:

• Risk assessment

• Setting up a ladder safely

• Using a ladder safely

• Prevention of falls, and

• Ladder maintenance

  
  

For example, both publications advise that ladders must be used on a solid and stable surface and slipping can be prevented by:

• Making sure the ladder has non-slip feet

• Placing single & extension ladders at a slope of four to one (both publications have a diagram about this)

• Using stepladders in a fully open position

• Always securing single and extension ladders at their top and bottom (both publications show how to do this)

Whether you are using a ladder at work or at home the advice in the above publications will help you to work without injury when using a ladder.

For more information on OHS and WHS training or OHS and WHS compliance services, or if you would like help to make your WHS management system even more robust, please feel free to contact us by email at train@courtenell.com.au or phone us on 02 9552 2066