Toolbox talk: ladders and stepladders

This is a ready-to-give toolbox talk on ladders and stepladders. Keep it to about five to ten minutes, run it before the work starts, and make it about the actual ladder work planned today. Use it as a script, adjust it to the job, and take questions at the end.

Why this matters

Ladders are not banned and they are not the problem. Misused ladders are. A large share of falls from height on building sites involve a ladder that was the wrong choice for the job, was not secured, or was used to reach that bit too far. A ladder is a tool for short, light work, not a work platform for the afternoon. The point of this talk is to use ladders for the right jobs, set up right, so nobody comes off one today.

The main risks on the job

• Overreaching, leaning out to one side instead of moving the ladder.
• An unsecured ladder that slips at the foot or the top.
• The wrong ladder for the job, or one used for long or heavy work it is not suited to.
• A damaged ladder, bent stiles, missing or worn rungs, or worn feet.
• Poor ground, soft, uneven or sloping, so the ladder is not stable.
• Standing too high, on the top rungs of a leaning ladder or the top steps of a stepladder.

What you must do

• Use a ladder only for short, light work. For longer or heavier work, use a tower, a platform or a MEWP.
• Pick the right ladder in good condition, and check the stiles, rungs and feet before use. Take a damaged ladder out of use.
• Set it up safely. Firm, level ground, a leaning ladder at about a 1 in 4 angle, and secure it by tying it or having it footed.
• Keep three points of contact and face the ladder while climbing and working.
• Do not overreach. Keep your belt buckle within the stiles, and move the ladder rather than stretching.
• Do not stand on the top rungs of a leaning ladder or the top steps of a stepladder, and keep clear of doors and overhead power lines.

Questions to discuss with the crew

• What ladder work are we doing today, and is a ladder really the right choice for it?
• Have the ladders been checked, and is anything damaged?
• How will each ladder be secured, and is the ground firm and level?
• Is there anything long or heavy that should be on a tower or a platform instead?

Record the talk

Write down the date, the topic, who gave the talk and who attended, and keep it on file. The record shows the briefing happened, and it is often asked for by the principal contractor or in an investigation after an incident.

Related: Toolbox talk: working at height, the toolbox talks index, and RAMS for working at height.