Ladders - Safe Work Procedure or Work Method Statement

Ladders are found in almost every workplace. Each year many injuries occur as a result of unsafe ladder usage. The two page Safe Work Procedure or Work Method Satement can be used to form an Induction Program to address the safe use of Ladders.

The Safe Work Procedure Includes:

• Risk Assessments
• Ladder Selection
• Manual Handling
• Ladder Stability
• Extension Ladders
• Ascending & Descending
• Slips & Footwear
• Fall Prevention

      $79.95 plus GST

• 2 Page Complete Procedure
• MS Word Format
• Ready to Use
• Version 4.0

Ladders Safety Notes

The major risk with using ladders is falling either from overreaching or the ladder slipping. If the work cannot be performed safely then alternate means should be considered such as mobile or fixed scaffolding, trestles or elevating work platforms “cherry pickers”.
    

• A step ladder should never be ‘walked’ by the person standing on the ladder.
• Ladders should only be used as a ‘work platform’ for uncomplicated work with a short duration.
• The overall length of the ladder is not the same as it’s usable length. When used for access to scaffolding, roofs, etc, the ladder should extend at least 1 metre (at least three rungs) above the landing place.
• f a person is working off a ladder, there should be I metre of ladder length above the highest rung on which the worker has to stand. (Rungs are usually a third of a metre apart.)

Ladder Storage

• Ladders can be stored vertically or horizontally.
• If they are hung vertically they should be secured to prevent them falling over. Ladders should never be hung vertically from their rungs. A rack or wall brackets will allow ladders to be hung horizontally from the stiles.
• Visual inspections should be carried out before and after normal use. Inspections should also be carried out at other set intervals. The frequency of these set inspections will depend on the amount a ladder is used.
• As part of a system of inspection and maintenance, ladders should be individually identified.
• Ladders found to be defective should be clearly labelled or marked and withdrawn from service until repaired, or disposed of.