What 4 things would you check on a ladder before using it?

Ladder Inspections are a vital part of using ladders safety. They should be checked before every use and regularly be a competent person every 3 to 6 months. This blog post will show you an easy way to keep track of those inspections and what to look out for before each use.

The first rule of staying safe when using ladders is to do regular checks and pre-checks If it is not safe to use then DO NOT USE IT.

The HSE Website states that a pre-check should be done by the user, before using the ladder and after something has changed for example, when moving the ladder to a different area the feet should be checked for damages.

When carrying out a pre-check you should;

Check the Stiles - If the stiles appear to be bent or split this could cause the ladder to collapse.
Check the Feet - If the feet are missing, worn or damaged the risk of the ladder slipping increases.
Check the Rungs - If the rungs are bent, missing or lose the chance of falling again increases, as the ladder can easily become unstable.
Check Locking Bars - If you are using a stepladder you should check the locking bars and ensure that they are not bent and the fixings are not worn or damaged.
Check the Platform - If you are using a platform stepladder you also need to check the platform for any defects, such as the platform being split or buckled.

If you notice any defects on your ladder you should not use the equipment. Put safety first and purchase new access equipment or when suitable ladder spares may be the answer. For example, if your feet are damaged the Trim 2 Fit Replacement Ladder Feet may be a solution.

As well as pre-checks, regular ladder inspections should be conducted by a competent person for all work at height equipment and a detailed ladder inspection should be completed every 3 or 6 months. The ladder inspection records are legally required to be made available to a health and safety officer when required.

Ladder inspectors need to be properly trained as well as have the correct practical and theoretical knowledge, training and experience necessary. This knowledge can be obtained from our Ladder Association Ladder Users & Inspection courses or should you prefer we can come to site and inspect your ladders for you.

An easy way to keep track of your ladder inspections is with the Ladder Log Business Pack. This business pack makes it extremely easy to keep track of your ladder inspections and the A4 Inspection folder allows you to store completed checklists. These are availalble for free download on our Ladder Log Product pages.

The Ladder Log inspection tag is really simple to use and this video 'Ladder Log Inspection System in 25 Seconds' illustrates how easy it really is in just four steps. Inspecting and tagging your equipment can significantly lower the risk of ladder falls occurring and we can not stress enough how important it is.

If you have any questions or require any more information don't hesitate to contact us by calling 01204 590 232 or by sending us an email. And don't forget to check back here tomorrow for Thursday's Health & Safety Week Safety Tips.

‍So, what’s a ladder inspection? When the crew member pulls the ladder off the truck should he just give it a once over and make sure no part of it fell off and then they are good to go?

Ladders are involved in 20% of fall injuries among workers and 81% of construction worker fall injuries.

OSHA requires that employers ensure ladders are inspected on a periodic basis. However, even with periodic inspections, it is still every worker's responsibility to be sure that the ladder they are about to use is in safe working order.

OSHA Construction Standard 1926.1053(b)(15) Ladders shall be inspected by a competent person for visible defects on a periodic basis and after any occurrence that could affect their safe use.

OSHA General Industry Standard 1910.27(f) All ladders shall be maintained in a safe condition. All ladders shall be inspected regularly, with the intervals between inspections being determined by use and exposure.

OSHA General Industry Standard 1910.23(b)(9) Ladders are inspected before initial use in each work shift, and more frequently as necessary, to identify any visible defects that could cause employee injury.

Everyone knows that safety training is crucial to the health and welfare of the workforce. But common sense type safety topics don't always make it into the safety meeting discussion. Do not assume that employees have the same knowledge that you do and do not take common sense for granted.

Make sure the basics are covered in toolbox talks and safety meetings on a regular basis, including how to conduct a proper ladder inspection. Employees may not ask or speak up about something they think is "a stupid question" and they don't want to risk embarrassment in front of their co-workers, so they may take an unsafe action without knowing it. The easy fix is to have regular safety meetings (even if they are only 5 minutes long) on the simple stuff too.

When planning a safety meeting or safety moment about ladder inspections, don't forget to emphasize these important points.

Always visually inspect ladder feet to ensure that foot pads and feet assembly are present and in safe condition. Damaged or missing feet pads can cause you to slip or lose balance and suffer a deadly fall.
Inspect the rungs, rails, lock (dawgs), rope, and pulley assembly of an extension ladder and be sure that all parts work properly.
It is very important to make certain that the rope and pulley are working and that the ladder locks (dawgs) do not slip!
Never attempt to repair a ladder! Do not use wire, screws, bolts, duct tape or electrical tape as a way to fix any ladder; instead, tag it and remove it from service.
Inspect the top cap, all steps, side rails, and locking braces on a step ladder before using.
Loose locking braces or spreaders can cause the ladder to wobble and become unstable.
Ladder inspections should include making sure that labels are readable and haven't been painted over or damaged.
Check the rungs and steps for mud, grease, or dirt to avoid potential slip/fall hazards.
Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for proper inspection and use of the specific ladder.
Remove any ladder from service that is found to be defective!
Never use a step ladder (in a folded position) as an extension ladder!

Weeklysafety.com wanted to provide some links to useful ladder inspection checklists to our readers but after an extensive online search, all the ladder checklists we found were either 1) difficult to understand, or 2) excessively complicated, or 3) excessively long, or 4) were more than just an "inspection checklist" and included other items like ladder usage and ladder training, etc.

So, you know what we did. Yep. We created our own ladder inspection checklist, and we are making it available to everyone. It’s yours to download for free and use with your crews. Click on the image below to download immediately.

Click this image to download your inspection checklist now.

Our goals for this checklist were the following:

short – only 1 page
can be 3-hole punched to put into a binder for recordkeeping
simple, easy to train the crew how to use
easy to understand what to look for, no complicated language
inspection checklist only
will work for ANY ladder, even a fixed ladder (side of the building) or an attic ladder or a platform ladder in addition to common step + extension ladders
will work for wooden, metal, fiberglass, and aluminum ladders
can be laminated for use with a whiteboard marker for multiple uses (if so desired)

This checklist is our gift to you. Click the image above to download your Ladder Inspection Checklist today.

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