Ladder Operations. How Safe are your Workers?
Across Australia during the 2023 – 2024 financial year, there were more than 6000 injuries recorded (https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/injury/falls) and 2023 saw 41 people killed (https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/causes-death/causes-death-australia/latest-release) all as a direct result of incidents involving ladders.
All ladders must be regularly inspected to ensure they meet relevant Australian Standards (AS/NZS 1892 for portable ladders, AS 1657 for fixed ladders).
I commonly see workers using portable ladders in and around equipment, both in the field and the plant and when this occurs I ask if the ladder has been inspected. Almost always I get a blank stare in response, yet the ladder work they are about to commence will likely be one of the more dangerous things they do on the day.
Ladder incidents can be a consequence of ladder damage (cracks, damaged rungs / steps, missing foot pads, missing bolts, weld failures, etc.), missing safety devices (e.g. rear fall protection, tool storage), incorrect set-up or use (unstable or uneven ground, not secured or supported), wrong ladder for the task (A-frame, single or extension ladder, etc.).
Regular ladder safety inspections combined with an assessment of the proposed work area will reduce incidents and workplace injuries.
Beyond regular ladder inspections, work area risk assessments must be performed and consider how a ladder is to be used and what environmental or infrastructure conditions exist that may impact on its safe use.
First and foremost is whether a ladder should be used at all, e.g. would scaffolding, an EWP or fixed platforms be a better and safer option? Are the ground conditions level and stable? Can the ladder be set-up to provide safe and easy access to the point of work? Are the tools to be used sufficiently light to be used single-handedly? Can three points of contact be maintained to provide operator stability? Is the worker likely to be performing lone work and how would this be managed?
To protect workers, conduct ladder inspections, risk assessment work area conditions and consider alternative options to conducting work.
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