Working at height – Can’t I just use a ladder?

Working at Height regulations are stringent, and often people ask if they could just get the job done using a ladder, rather than using specialist equipment that requires training to use, such as manual access platforms or powered access equipment.

Incidentally, Working at Height means any work where, if there are no precautions in place, it is possible to fall a distance that could cause an injury. Which does actually cover working on a ladder – so don’t think that opting for a ladder means you don’t have to worry about the regulations or the risks. Using the right type of equipment for any work at height is part of the regulations.

There are some situations where a ladder is the most suitable equipment for working at height, but there are some common sense guidelines to help decide when this is the case.

So when is a ladder not the answer?

• If you’re going to be working at height for more than 30 minutes, a ladder is not suitable. So, if you need to change a lightbulb, you’d be fine, but painting a high ceiling would take longer than that, and would therefore need proper equipment.
• If you’re carrying heavy tools or equipment with you. Ladders don’t have the stability, strength, or suitability for carrying a person and tools/equipment. You need a platform that will be able to manage the weight, and give you space to put those tools down as you work.
• If you are applying a sideways force – for example drilling into a wall. A ladder is not designed to resist that force, and may be at risk of toppling.
• If you cannot maintain 3 points of contact with the ladder. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to have one hand on the ladder at all times, being able to rest your thighs against the ladder counts as a point of contact. But if you need to move or shift your weight repeatedly during the work, you won’t be able to maintain those three points of contact.
• If the ladder itself is not suitable for the job at hand. If the ladder is not tall enough for you to maintain those three points of contact, it is not suitable. If it doesn’t have safety features, such as non-slip feet, it is not suitable, and so on.

So, while there are occasions when a ladder is the right tool for the job, be aware that there are many situations where you should take care to provide appropriate access equipment to ensure the health and safety of your staff.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) created a Work at height Access equipment Information Toolkit to help users work out the most suitable equipment for the job.