In brief
Under the legislation, a portable ladder may only be used if the risk is low, the work is short, or workplace conditions do not allow safer equipment. A leaning ladder is set up at an angle of about 75 degrees (1 unit of base distance for every 4 units of height), extends sufficiently above the landing and is secured against slipping. The worker maintains three points of contact at all times, does not carry loads in their hands, and the ladder is visually checked before every use.
Why is ladder safety underestimated?
A portable ladder is one of the most ordinary pieces of equipment in the workplace. This ordinariness is the biggest problem with ladder safety: a ladder is often taken without asking anyone, leaned against the nearest wall and used for a "two-minute job". A fall from a ladder, even from a low height, can cause head, spine and wrist injuries; the severity of a fall depends not only on the height but also on the surface landed on and how the person falls.
This article explains which jobs a portable ladder can be used for, how it should be set up and used, and what should be checked before use. For the general framework of work at height and the order of priority of measures, see our article what is work at height.
What jobs can a portable ladder be used for?
Annex II, item 4.1.2 of the Regulation on Health and Safety Requirements for the Use of Work Equipment is clear: ladders may be used for work at height only where the use of safer work equipment is not justified because of the low level of risk, and the work is of short duration, or where there are existing features of the workplace that the employer cannot change. In other words, a ladder is not a working platform but one of the last options.
In practice, ask these questions before using a portable ladder:
- Is the job short? Changing a lamp or putting a box on a shelf is a short job; painting a wall or installing a cable tray on a ceiling is not.
- Is the job light? If a heavy tool or material has to be held with both hands, a ladder is not suitable.
- Will the worker be able to keep one hand on the ladder at all times?
- Can the ladder be set up on firm, level ground?
If the answer to any of these questions is "no", a platform ladder with guardrails, a mobile tower or a mobile elevating work platform should be considered. We discuss choosing platform ladders for shelf stocking in shops in our article on OHS in supermarkets and stores; other topics specific to retail are on our office and retail page.
Types of ladder and choosing the right one
| Type | Suitable use | Points to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Leaning ladder (single section) | Access to a higher level, short and light work | Angle, securing at the top or bottom, sufficient extension at the landing |
| Stepladder (double-sided, free-standing) | Short work near the ceiling, places with no wall to lean on | Spreader lock fully open, top steps not used, no reaching to the side |
| Platform ladder with guardrails | Repeated shelf stocking, order picking in warehouses | If on wheels, locked before climbing |
| Extension (sliding) ladder | Access to a roof or mezzanine | Sections locked together, overlap maintained |
A stepladder stands on its own with its legs spread and does not need a surface to lean on. The most common mistake is leaning a folded stepladder against a wall: in this case its feet are not designed to resist slipping. Another mistake is climbing onto the top step or top platform; the worker has nothing left to hold on to and loss of balance is inevitable. The manufacturer's label states which step must not be stood on or above.
For work near electrical installations, a ladder made of insulating material (for example fibreglass) is chosen instead of a metal one.
Ladder angle and set-up
The most critical setting for a leaning ladder is its angle. A ladder set up too steeply tips backwards; one set up too shallow slides out at the feet. The angle accepted in practice is about 75 degrees, and it is easily set using the "1 in 4 rule": for every 4 units of height from the ground to the point where the ladder rests, the foot of the ladder is moved 1 unit away from the wall.
Example calculation: If the ladder rests against the wall at a height of 3.60 m, its foot should be 3.60 ÷ 4 = 0.90 m from the wall. If the manufacturer's label specifies a different angle, the label takes precedence.
What the regulation requires for set-up and how this works in practice:
- Firm, level ground: Portable ladders stand on stable, sturdy, suitable feet so that the rungs remain horizontal (Annex II 4.2.1). Ladders are not set up on boxes, pallets or bricks.
- Measures against slipping: The top or bottom of the ladder is secured or an anti-slip material is used (Annex II 4.2.2). If securing is not possible, a second person footing the ladder from below is the last resort.
- Extension at the landing: A ladder used to access a platform must extend sufficiently above the platform level if there is nothing to hold on to on the platform (Annex II 4.2.2). In practice, this extension is about 1 metre.
- Locks on extension ladders: On ladders that can be extended and locked, the sections are prevented from moving relative to each other; ladders on wheels are secured before being climbed (Annex II 4.2.2).
- Doors and walkways: For a ladder set up in front of a door, the door is locked or someone stands guard; the area around a ladder on a vehicle or forklift route is closed off.
Three points of contact and rules of use
The regulation requires that workers on ladders always have a suitable handhold and secure support; carrying loads by hand on a ladder must not prevent this (Annex II 4.2.3). On site this is called the three points of contact rule: when climbing, descending and working, two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand, are on the ladder at all times.
Rules of use:
- Climb and descend facing the ladder.
- Hands must be free; tools are carried in a belt pouch or tool belt, and materials are raised with a rope.
- No overreaching: the body must stay between the two stiles of the ladder. If you cannot reach, climb down and move the ladder.
- Only one person on the ladder at a time.
- Ladders are not used outdoors in strong winds; for wind criteria for outdoor work, see our article on crane operations and work at height in strong winds.
- Do not climb a ladder in wet, oily or muddy shoes.
Pre-use ladder inspection
Annex III item 1.3 of the Work Equipment Regulation requires work equipment to be checked by its users before each use. Portable ladders are not among the equipment in the Annex III tables that must be periodically inspected by authorised persons; however, a visual pre-use check and regular inspection as determined by the risk assessment are still required. Check the following before each use:
- Are there any bends, cracks, dents or breaks in the stiles?
- Are the rungs sound, complete and clean?
- Are the anti-slip feet in place and not worn?
- On a stepladder, do the spreader lock and hinges work?
- On an extension ladder, are the locking latches and pulley sound?
- Is the label and load capacity information legible?
No attempt is made to repair a damaged ladder; it is set aside with a "do not use" tag and replaced. Numbering the ladders in the workplace and recording a quarterly inspection in a list prevents a damaged ladder from being used again from the store.
Training and responsibility
Ladder use should be demonstrated in practice during induction training and training on job-specific risks: the 1 in 4 rule, three points of contact and the pre-use check can be taught in a few minutes. For jobs involving more extensive work at height, see our articles on work at height training and, for the physician's assessment, the health report for work at height. General measures against fall and slip risks, including those from ladders, are covered in our article on preventing slips, trips and falls.
At businesses in Bursa and the surrounding provinces, Bursa Sistemer incorporates ladder selection and instructions for use into the risk assessment as part of the OHS specialist service and gives practical demonstrations as part of OHS training. You can use the OHS calendar tool to keep track of ladder inspection dates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is working with a portable ladder prohibited?
It is not prohibited, but it is restricted. Under the regulation, a ladder may be used if the risk is low, the work is short, or workplace conditions do not allow safer equipment. For long and heavy work, a platform, mobile tower or work platform is chosen.
What should the ladder angle be?
For leaning ladders, about 75 degrees is accepted in practice. The practical equivalent is the 1 in 4 rule: for every 4 units of resting height, the foot is moved 1 unit away from the wall. If the manufacturer's label gives a different value, the label takes precedence.
Can a stepladder be used leaning against a wall?
No. A stepladder is designed to be used free-standing with its legs open and locked. When leaned against a wall folded, its feet can slip.
Is periodic inspection of portable ladders mandatory?
Portable ladders are not among the equipment in the Annex III tables of the Work Equipment Regulation that must be inspected by authorised persons. However, they should be visually checked before each use, and regular inspections at intervals determined by the risk assessment should be recorded.
A certified specialist matched to your hazard class: site inspections, approved logbook, training plan, annual plan and report follow-up.
Bursa SİSTEMER OSGB Technical Team — written from the field experience of our OHS specialists and workplace physicians. Legal information is valid as of the publication/update date; contact us for an assessment specific to your business.