Safe

Ladder
HSE TECHNICAL OVERVIEW

Version 1, 25-OCT-2021
INTRODUCTION
• Ladders are important and essential tools that are used widely in variety of
industries. They help us move up & down and work at different heights.
• Portable ladders, in particular, are useful tool because they can be readily moved
or carried. They are simply built and come in many size, shapes and styles.
INTRODUCTION

• Although ladders are easy to use, they are often misused or abused, causing
serious injuries and deaths. These deaths and injuries could have been
significantly reduced and eliminated with proper care and use.
Reason for fall from Ladders
Why do people fall from ladders if they are so easy to use?

 Setting up the ladders on slippery or unstable surface is a primary reason ladder fall over.
 Overreaching by the user.
 Setting up the ladders improperly.
 Loss of balance.
 Improperly getting onto or off to the ladder.
 Miss-stepping or slipping of a foot while climbing and descending.
 Being bumped by a cart or other objects.
 People not paying attention while using ladders.
 Using Ladders – 3 Point Contact

• Always maintain a 3-point

(two hands and a foot, or
two feet and a hand)
contact on the ladder
while climbing
 Position of Body

• Keep your body near the

middle of the step and
always face the ladder
while climbing.
 Using Ladder Levelers

• Only use ladders and

appropriate accessories
(ladder levelers, jacks or
hooks) for their
designed purposes.
Ladder Leveler
 Daily Inspection

• Inspect the ladder

visually for any
defect or missing
rungs before use.
 Hold the Ladder

• Have another person to

hold the ladder while it is
being securely tied at the
top or for full duration of
usage if it is not practical to
tie
 75 Degree Inclination

• Keep the ladder at 75

degrees to the ground level,
so that the height is 4 times
the base.
 Face Towards the Ladder

• Always face towards the

ladder while climbing up or
down.
 Ladder Shifting

• Be careful while carrying

the ladder at blind corners.
Use at least two people
when carrying ladder
manually
Select Appropriate Ladder

• Select the
appropriate
ladder for
each job
 Fiber Ladder

• Only fiber ladder (poor

conductivity) with insulating
rubber shoes should be
used for working at
electrical lines
 Proper Access and Egress

• Provide proper access to

and from the ladder must
be maintained at all times
 Belly Button

• Make sure that your belly

button (navel) is positioned
between the two stiles at all
times to prevent
overreaching
 Ladder Extended Above the Platform

• The ladder should extend at

least 3 rungs (1 m) above
the platform
 One Person at a Time

• Remember to use the

ladder one person at a time
 Rungs Spacing

• Ensure that the distance

between ladder rungs is at
least 30 cm
 Overhead Clearance

• Don’t allow ladder to come

within 3 m of HV electrical
lines
 Ladder Placement

• Don’t put a ladder in front

of a door which might be
opened
 Overreaching

• Don’t overreach to gain

access to a job.
 Earthing

• Don’t use a ladder without

earthing while carrying out
work on electrical
installations.
 Loos Tools on the Ladder

• Don’t keep loose

tools on top of
the ladder.
 Wet Ladder

• Don’t use
wet ladders.
Let them
dry before
use
 Portable Ladder

• Don’t use portable ladders

of more than 9 m length
 Ladder as a Platform

• Don’t use ladder as a

platform
 Support for Ladder

• Never lean or support a

ladder against loose boxes,
barrels, round objects or
other unsafe backing.
 Sub-Standard Ladder

• Don’t use a makeshift

ladder or a makeshift
base for it.
 Storage on the Walkway

• Ladders should not be

stored in locations where
they may be struck in any
way
 Cable Trays are NOT Ladders

• Don’t use cable tray as

ladder
 Carrying Material while Climbing

• Don’t carry anything in your

hands while climbing the
ladder.
 Ladder Clamp

• Don’t use normal

scaffolding clamps to secure
ladders. Use ladder clamps
to maintain the integrity of
the ladder.
Thanks!