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WorkCover. Watching out for you.

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PREVENTION OF FALLS LEANING LADDERS AND STEPLADDERS

PRESENTED BY: (type your name here)

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TRAINING

OUTLINE• Introduction and what the

law says

• Hazards and pre-use checks

• Positioning

• Safe use

• Quiz

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WHY TALK

ABOUT LADDERS ? • Falls from heights are one of the most common

causes of serious injury in the construction industry.

• In the last five years, approximately 1600 workers in the construction industry in NSW were injured when they fell from a ladder, mobile ramp or stairway.

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WHAT THE

LAW SAYS

• The consequences of falling from a height are so great that Clause 56 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 2001 sets out a descending order of control to protect persons working at heights.

• This must be considered before you start work.

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LADDERS

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BEFORE YOU START WORK ELIMINATE THE RISK Ask yourself:

• Can the job be done from the ground using extension tools?

• Can construction or repair of the item be done on the ground?

• Can the item being accessed be relocated to the ground temporarily or permanently to eliminate the need to work from a height?

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BEFORE YOU START WORK REDUCE THE RISKBefore you start work consider:

• using a scaffold either fixed or mobile

• using secure perimeter screens, fencing, handrails or other form of barrier protection

• using an elevating work platform - a scissor lift or cherry picker

• installing fixed stairs or steps.

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SAFE

ALTERNATIVES• You should only consider using a ladder if other

alternatives cannot be used or are not reasonably practicable and a ladder can be used safely.

• There are many more factors to consider before you decide to use a ladder.

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BEFORE DECIDING

TO USE A LADDERConsider the following:• heavy work• duration of the job - fatigue• proximity of the work to heights such as adjacent to fixed

handrails - ie mezzanine floors, balconies etc.• worker experience• wet weather or slippery surfaces• windy weather• work near powerlines or live wires• anything likely to hit the ladder when it is set up.

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BEFORE DECIDINGTO USE A LADDER• Work outside the ladder styles/over reach.

• Unstable ground surfaces.

• Any other factors present that might increase the risk of a fall from a ladder.

Consult with workers, contractors and others on site tohelp you answer these questions.

If you cannot eliminate these factors, you will need to take additional precautions or else the work cannot be done safely using a ladder.

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REMEMBER

Portable ladders should only be used to gain access to an area to carry out light duty work of short duration.

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HAZARDS

AND PRE-USE CHECKS

Why do people fall from ladders?

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HAZARDS

AND PRE-USE CHECKS• Choose the correct ladder for the job - use an industrial

ladder, not a domestic one

– Portable ladders are rated as either Industrial or Domestic in accordance with their designed service capability and are marked accordingly by a sticker.(Ref. AS 1892)

– Industrial ladders have a load rating of not less than 120kg.

– Domestic ladders have a load rating of not less than 100kg.

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• Do not use a metal ladder or a wire-reinforced timber ladder, where electrical hazards exist.

• Don’t use a damaged ladder - what should you be looking for?

• Damaged ladders - who do you report damaged equipment to?

• Ladder storage.

HAZARDS

AND PRE-USE CHECKS

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POSITIONING

THE LADDER - GENERALDo not position a ladder:

• where it can be knocked

• where it may get struck by a passing vehicle

• within 3m of overhead powerlines.

Make sure:

• each foot of the ladder is on a clean, firm footing

• the ladder is at the correct height.

Avoid placing ladders on side or back slopes.

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POSITIONING

THE LADDER

• Angle the ladder one out and four up.

(means of securing omitted for clarity)

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POSITIONING

THE LADDER• Secure the ladder firmly.• Attach ties to the stiles not

the rungs of the ladder.• Do not place the top of a

ladder against a fragile or unstable surface.

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• Foot the ladder.

• Never ‘walk’ a ladder.

POSITIONING

THE LADDER

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WORKING

FROM A LADDERMaintain three points of contact with the ladder at all times – do NOT over reach.

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Do not use the top three steps and only work on a job within easy arm’s reach of the ladder.

WORKING

FROM A LADDER

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Position stepladders with the rungs facing the work activity.

WORKING

FROM A LADDER

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CASE

STUDYA 60 year old electrician was drawing cables for a new AC unit up a cavity on a domestic dwelling.

He was working by himself off an extension ladder approximately 1.8 m from the ground.

The draw wire became caught in the cavity so he used both hands to jerk the wire to free it.

The draw wire disengaged from the cable causing him to fall backwards over the fence into the adjoining property.

The electrician received fatal head injuries and died while being transported to hospital.

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• A 27 year old worker fell 6.5 metres from a ladder while installing window awnings.

• The ladder was leaning against a balcony railing, unsecured, on sloping ground.

• The ladder slid, arc-like, down the building and hit a tree.

• The worker is unlikely to ever work again and requires 24-hour care.

CASE

STUDY

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WORKING

FROM A LADDER - GENERAL• Don’t carry anything in your hands when climbing or

descending.• Don’t carry heavy or awkward shaped objects on a

ladder.• Do not throw things from a ladder• Don’t rush.• Watch where you place your feet at the bottom - make

sure you don’t miss the lower rung when you step off.

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• Consider any medical conditions or drugs that could affect your safety.

• Do not use tools that require a high degree of leverage.

• One ladder = one person.• Wear the correct footwear.• Clean footwear and ladder rungs before using the

ladder.• Use a stepladder in the fully open position.

WORKING

FROM A LADDER - GENERAL

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KEY

MESSAGES REVISED1. BEFORE you start work consider safer alternatives to ladders.

2. LIGHT work of short duration only.

3. CHOOSE the right ladder for the job.

4. POSITION the ladder correctly.

5. SECURE the ladder.

6. KEEP three points of contact at all times.

7. FACE the ladder when going up or down or when working on it.

8. WORK within the stiles - never over stretch.

9. NEVER go above the third step from the top.

10. USE both hands to grip the ladder when going up or down.

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QUIZ1. What must you do before you consider using a

portable ladder for a job?

2. List three things you should be satisfied of before deciding to use a ladder.

3. When you are setting up a ladder, what ratio should you use?

4. Ties should be attached to the rungs of the ladder. True or false?

5. How many points of contact should you keep on the ladder at all times?

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QUIZ6. It is ok to use a domestic ladder for small jobs in the

workplace. True or false?

7. List three things you should look for when you are inspecting a ladder for damage

8. You should always face the ladder when working, climbing or descending. True or false?

9. Working outside the ladder stiles is allowed if you can support yourself on a solid surface like a window ledge. True or false?

10. Where the work involves hand tools, they should be carried in a tool belt or bag. True or false?

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QUESTIONS

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COPYRIGHT NOTICE

Disclaimer

This document provides general information about the rights and obligations of workers and employers under the workers compensation and occupational health and safety laws. WorkCover NSW does not guarantee that the information is complete or correct.

These materials do not represent a comprehensive statement of the law as it applies to particular problems or to individuals or as a substitute for legal advice. Although all care is taken to ensure that the information is correct at the time of publication, laws change over time and you should check the current legislation to ensure that the information is up to date.

You should seek independent legal advice if you need assistance on the application of the law to your situation.

AcknowledgementThis is a NSW Construction Industry Reference Group project in partnership with WorkCover NSW

© WorkCover NSW 2007

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workcover. watching out for you. put your co. logo here prevention of falls leaning ladders and...

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