Working with Ladders

During your time as a wildlife volunteer, you may find yourself in a situation where the use of a portable ladder/stepladder is required to access and assist a sick or injured animal. At all times, please remember that working at height and with ladders is inherently dangerous. Falls from ladders can result in significant, serious injuries including death, even when working at relatively low heights and therefore members must ensure adequate safety precautions are in place prior to working at any height.

Due to the inherent risks involved with working at height, WIRES strongly recommends that members stay within 2m height off the ground as a rule. It should be noted that significant injuries can occur from a fall of within 2m and therefore these safety precautions are relevant for any height off the ground.

While ladders are often considered as the safest option when working at heights, safer alternatives should first be explored such as utilising external services or elevated work platforms.

Duty of Care

WIRES Inc. has a duty of care to all volunteers. Falls from ladders can be very dangerous, and therefore it is imperative that WIRES has appropriate procedures in place to ensure that the risks involved in using ladders are minimised.

Volunteers must abide by the protocols and procedures outlined below in the use of ladders/stepladders whilst conducting any volunteering duties:

• Volunteers are required to have at least one other volunteer assisting on site when utilising a ladder. Ladder rescues are not to be attended by one volunteer alone
• Volunteers must be experienced and trained in the use of ladders, including how to correctly inspect (for damage), set-up and safely use ladders (see further information below)
• A volunteer's physical condition must be conducive to climbing ladders
• Slip resistant footwear must be worn
• Members must also consider that the working width and movement when using ladders is limited

It is important to understand that individuals outside of WIRES Inc. have not undertaken WIRES RICC WHS training and therefore, in the case of an incident, may not be insured by WIRES.

Selecting Ladders

If ladders are used, they must be selected to suit the task being undertaken. In doing this, you should consider the duration of the task, the physical surroundings of where the task is to be undertaken and the prevailing weather conditions.

Portable ladders (such as step ladders or extension ladders) should only ever be used for access to or from a working area or for a short duration to carry out light tasks that can be undertaken safely on the ladder.

When working with uneven ground, consider utilising step ladders which have four points of contact with the ground and therefore tend to offer more stability than extension ladders which only have two points of contact with the ground. When using an extension ladder, it is recommended to use some form of ladder levellers with individually adjustable feet, to ensure your ladder is as stable as possible.  

Stepladders should be set up in the fully opened position and it is recommended that a second person ‘foot’s’ the ladder for added stability.

Ladders should have a load rating of at least 120 kg and be manufactured for industrial use. Never use an old, compromised or dilapidated ladder.

Positioning Ladders

Any ladder used for a task must be set up on a solid and stable surface, utilising the flattest part of the ground so as to prevent the ladder from wobbling or slipping. It is important to set it up as close to the area that you are working as possible, as over-reaching can increase the risk of the activity.

Single and extension ladders can be prevented from slipping by:

• Placing ladders at a slope of 4:1, and setting up stepladders in the fully opened position
• Securing ladders at the top or bottom, or if necessary, at both ends (see Figure 1)

Figure 1. Effective ways of securing a ladder (Code of Practice: Managing the risk of falls at workplaces)

Access or Egress

Where fixed or extension ladders are used for access or egress, you should check that:

• There is a firm, stable work platform, free from obstructions, to step onto from the ladder
• The ladder extends at least one metre above the stepping-off point on the working platform
• Fall protection is provided at the stepping-off point where people access the working platform

Principles of Safe Ladder Use

Please note: the ladders safe manufacturer's recommendations on safe use should be followed at all times.

When a ladder is used, you should follow the below safety principles:

• The ladder is in good condition – the ladder should be inspected for faults, such as broken rungs, stiles and footing before it is used
• The ladder is set up on firm, stable and level ground – once set up, make sure you test the ladder’s stability prior to use
• The ladder is the correct height for the task to avoid reaching or stretching
• The ladder is not too close or too far from the support structure – the distance between the ladder base and the supporting structure should be about one metre for every four metres of working ladder height (4:1 ratio)
• The ladder is secured against displacement (i.e., slipping or sliding) and/or there is another person holding the base of the ladder
• The ladder is not placed so that the weight of the ladder and any person using the ladder is supported by the rungs
• All the locking devices on the ladder are secure
• Materials or tools are not carried while climbing the ladder – use a tool belt or side pouch
• Only light duty work is undertaken while on the ladder, and tools can be safely operated with one hand
• No one is to operate underneath the ladder
• Always maintain “three points of contact”:
• When ascending or descending the ladder, always have two feet and one hand, or one foot and two hands on the ladder
• When working from a ladder, have two feet and one other point of contact such as a hand or thigh on the ladder
• Slip resistant base, rungs or steps are provided
• Slip resistant shoes are worn
• Do not staddle the ladder
• Ladders are not used without additional appropriate precautions:
• In access areas of doorways – if necessary, erect a barrier or lock the door shut
• On scaffolding or an elevating work platform to get extra height
• Next to power lines unless the worker is trained and authorised and the appropriate ladder is being used
• In hazardous weather such as very wet or windy conditions
• Next to traffic areas, unless the working area is barricaded
• Allow anyone else to be on the ladder at the same time

Figure 2. Examples of acceptable ladder use (Code of Practice: Managing the risk of falls at workplaces)

When using ladders, it is not safe for members to:

Operate in access areas or doorways without sufficient barriers in place

• Use of near the edge of an open floor, penetration or beside any railing
• Use next to powerlines
• Operate next to traffic areas
• Over-reach (the centre of the torso should be within the ladder stiles throughout the task)
• Use any power or hand tool requiring two hands to operate
• Use tools that require a high degree of leverage force which, if released, may cause the user to over-balance or fall from the ladder, such as pinch bars
• Face away from the ladder when going up or down, or when working from it
• Stand on a rung closer than 900 mm to the top of a single or extension ladder
• Stand higher than the second tread below the top plate of any stepladder (with the exception of three-rung step ladders)
• Use during very wet or windy weather conditions

Guidance on the selection, safe use and care of portable ladders is set out in AS/NZS 1892 Portable ladder series.

Ladder Maintenance

In accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations, a competent person should regularly inspect ladders. Ladders with any of the following faults must be replaced or repaired:

• Fibreglass stiles cracked, chipped or severely faded with fibres exposed
• Timber stiles warped, splintered, cracked or bruised
• Metal stiles twisted, bent, kinked, crushed or with cracked welds or damaged feet
• Rungs steps, treads or top plates that are missing, worn, damaged or loose
• Tie rods missing, broken or loose
• Ropes, braces, or brackets that are missing, broken or worn
• Timber members that are covered with opaque paint or other treatment that could disguise faults in the timber
• Missing, loose, bent or worn fasteners, i.e., rivets, bolts and pins
• Worn or damaged feet, including non-slip material

References and Resources

NSW Government: Managing the risk of falls at workplaces – Code of Practice (August 2019)
SafeWork Australia: Managing the risk of falls at workplaces – Code of Practice (October 2018)
SafeWork NSW: Do work safety right, at any height