Employers need to make sure that any ladder or stepladder is both suitable for the work task and in a safe condition before use. As a guide, only use ladders or stepladders that:

 

■ have no visible defects. They should have a pre-use check each working day;

 

■ have an up-to-date record of the detailed visual inspections carried out regularly by a competent person. These should be done in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Ladders that are part of a scaffold system still have to be inspected every seven days as part of the scaffold inspection requirements;

 

■ are suitable for the intended use, ie are strong and robust enough for the job. HSE recommends British Standard (BS) Class 1 ‘Industrial’ or BS EN 131 ladders for use at work.

 

■ have been maintained and stored in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

 

NH&SH Safety Ltd qualified inspectors can carry out detailed visual ladder inspections.  We can carry these out at your place of work, yard or site.  All inspections are fully documented for company records.