Work Activity:

Use of Ladders

Directorate

Economy & Place

Section:

Port of Sunderland

Date of Assessment:

05/07/21

Date to be Reviewed:

05/07/22

What are the hazards?

Who might be harmed and how?

What precautions or existing control measures are presently taken.

Likelihood

Severity

Risk Rating

L x S

If High or Medium Risk, what addition precautions or control measures need to be taken to reduce risk to as low as reasonably practicable.

Likelihood

Severity

Residual Risk

L x S

Working at heights

Falling from height

Operative, serious injury or death.

There is a misconception that ladders cannot be used however, ladders can often be a sensible and practical option for low-risk and short duration tasks (no longer than 30 minutes).

There are some situations where a ladder may be the only practical possibility. Using

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What are the hazards?

Who might be harmed and how?

What precautions or existing control measures are presently taken.

Likelihood

Severity

Risk Rating

L x S

If High or Medium Risk, what addition precautions or control measures need to be taken to reduce risk to as low as reasonably practicable.

Likelihood

Severity

Residual Risk

L x S

a ladder should never be your first option; they remain a viable solution for work at height where alternative forms of access cannot be used. However, if in any doubt contact you supervisor / manager for further advice.

Work at height to be avoided wherever possible.

Operators to be trained and competent to use any equipment selected for working at heights activities.

Ladders must be industrial standard (EN131 Industrial or BS1129 Class 1, BS2037 Class 1 or the recently introduced EN131 Professional Standard (minimum capacity 150kg).

Ladders should only be used for short duration work, only if a more suitable alternative piece of access equipment would not be appropriate.

All operatives must have received working at heights training and have received specific training in the use of ladders.

Working at heights refresher training to be carried out at a minimum of every 3 years.

Pre-use visual inspection must be carried out prior to use each day.

If ladders are dirty you must clean the ladder prior to inspection to ensure any potential defects are clearly visible. In addition the dirt itself can cause the ladder

What are the hazards?

Who might be harmed and how?

What precautions or existing control measures are presently taken.

Likelihood

Severity

Risk Rating

L x S

If High or Medium Risk, what addition precautions or control measures need to be taken to reduce risk to as low as reasonably practicable.

Likelihood

Severity

Residual Risk

L x S

to slip or you to slip from the ladder.

Ladders to be inspected weekly and recorded in ladder register.

Damaged or defective ladders must not be used and must be taken out of use clearly identified as defective and reported to supervisor / manager.

Ladders to be checked to ensure correct length, type and condition before use.

Over-reaching from ladders must be avoided, move the ladder or select alternative equipment which prevents the need to over-reach.

Use the belt-buckle test to avoid overreaching, if your belt buckle is outside the sides of the ladder, you’re overreaching.

3 Points of contact must be maintained at all times when using a ladder. Always maintain a firm handhold of the ladder.

Appropriate footwear meeting the specified requirements of EN ISO 20345, should be worn at all times.

Ensure footwear is free from dirt, mud and grease etc.

Harness and cow tail to be worn and fixed to ladder when 2 hands needed to carry out work.

What are the hazards?

Who might be harmed and how?

What precautions or existing control measures are presently taken.

Likelihood

Severity

Risk Rating

L x S

If High or Medium Risk, what addition precautions or control measures need to be taken to reduce risk to as low as reasonably practicable.

Likelihood

Severity

Residual Risk

L x S

Ladders must only be erected on level, firm stable ground conditions.

Ladders should be erected at the correct angle 75° (or base to height ration of 1:4)

Ladders must be secured against slipping by tying at the top, pegging at the bottom or using a propriety anti-slip device (e.g. ladder fix).

Always use a strong upper resting point rather than, for example, plastic rain water goods.

Ladder mate to be attached to bottom of ladder. Micro light to be attached to top of ladder.

Only as a last resort should you ask another person to foot the ladder.

Depending on the location of the works and the position of the ladder it may be necessary to cordon off the area immediately adjacent and below the working area.

Whilst unattended ladders must be removed or secured with ladder locks to prevent unauthorised access.

When using access equipment outside consideration must be given to weather conditions e.g. High wind, rain, snow and ice.

Good housekeeping practices must be

What are the hazards?

Who might be harmed and how?

What precautions or existing control measures are presently taken.

Likelihood

Severity

Risk Rating

L x S

If High or Medium Risk, what addition precautions or control measures need to be taken to reduce risk to as low as reasonably practicable.

Likelihood

Severity

Residual Risk

L x S

maintained around the working area at all times.

This Risk Assessment must be read in conjunction with the Working at Heights Risk Assessment – POS 01.