BUSINESS AND TRAINING
materials (e.g., bricks or concrete).
- - Where side-on loadings cannot be avoided, you
should prevent the steps from tipping over, (e.g., by
tying the steps) otherwise, use more suitable types
of access equipment.
- - Maintain three points of contact at the working
position. This means two feet and one hand, or
when both hands need to be free for a brief period,
two feet and the body supported by the stepladder.
When deciding if it is safe to carry out a particular task on a
stepladder where you cannot maintain a handhold (e.g., to put
a box on a shelf, hang wallpaper or to install a smoke detector
on a ceiling), this needs to be justified, taking into account:
• The height of the task.
• Whether a handhold is still available to steady yourself
before and after the task.
• Whether it is light work.
• Whether it avoids side loading.
• Whether it avoids overreaching.
• Whether the stepladder can be tied (e.g. when working
side-on).
What are the options for securing ladders?
Tie the ladder to a suitable point, making sure both stiles are
tied. Where this is not practical:
• Secure with an effective ladder stability device.
• If this is not possible, then securely wedge the ladder,
(e.g., wedge the stiles against a wall).
• If you can’t achieve any of these options, foot the
ladder. Footing is the last resort. Avoid it, where
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‘reasonably practicable’, by using other access
equipment.
Ladders used to access another level should be tied and
extend at least 1m above the landing point to provide a
secure hand hold. At ladder access points, a self-closing
gate is recommended.
NB: Stepladders should not be used to access another
level, unless they have been specifically designed for this.
Inspection of the equipment
Employers need to make sure that any ladder or stepladder
is both suitable for the work task and in a safe condition
before use. As a guide, only use ladders or stepladders that:
• Have no visible defects. They should have a
pre-use check each working day.
• Have an up-to-date record of the detailed
visual inspections carried out regularly by a
competent person. These should be done
in accordance with the manufacturer’s
instructions. Ladders that are part of a scaffold
system still have to be inspected every
seven days as part of the scaffold inspection
requirements.
• Are suitable for the intended use, (i.e. are
strong and robust enough for the job and
are manufactured to South African National
Standard for use at work).
• Have been maintained and stored in
Good practice: use of a stand-off device to
accordance with the manufacturer’s
ensure a strong resisting point.
instructions.
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