ZARGES tip: Risk assessment

Generally, you should at least consider the following aspects in your risk assessment:
Do you have enough ladders and step stools? Are they appropriate for their purposes?

• Workers have to be provided with ladders and step stools of the required type and size and in the necessary quantity.
• The appropriate ladder length, height of the first tread, type, material, stability and accessories have to be chosen according to the application (workplace or traffic route).
• The quantity depends on the spatial situation at the work site: Access equipment should not be kept in a location far away from its place of use, such that it first has to be retrieved before use (foreseeable risk that personnel would rather use inappropriate access devices).
• Prohibit and prevent the use of inappropriate access devices using suitable measures.

• Before assigning a task, make sure that the access device (ladder or step) and accessories in question are appropriate for the task to be performed.
• Ladders may only be used when:
  • personnel can stand securely while climbing the ladder
  • personnel can always stand stably while working on the ladder
• If the requirements cannot be fulfilled, you may have to consider using scaffold towers, aerial work platforms or other work platforms for this task.

In order to minimise risks as much as possible, the following must be considered:

• Use ladders and step stools only for purposes that are appropriate for their design, variant and size.
• Always set up ladders and step stools in a secure position
• When necessary, use securing measures to prevent ladders falling over
• Ladders used on roads or at roadsides must be clearly indicated and signed to prevent people accidentally knocking them over
• Provide annual training on the proper use of the equipment

• Users must be able to understand how to use a portable ladder properly by looking at the instructions (in the form of pictographs) affixed on the ladder.
• If such instructions are not available, they are to be obtained (e.g. from the ladder's manufacturer) and permanently affixed to the ladder at a prominent location.

A few laws, regulations & standards deal with the inspection and proper provision of access equipment, e.g. Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health [BetrSichV], and DGUV Information 208-016 (formerly BGI 694) Instructions on the proper handling of ladders and step stools.

A person must be tasked with the regular inspection of ladders and step stools to ensure that they are in proper condition (visual and functional inspection). Here are a few things to take note:

• specify inspection intervals according to use conditions
• enter the results in a ladder inspection log (a collection of checklists)
• before using ladders and step stools brought in by external contractors, carefully inspect them for their appropriateness and condition

Systematic inspection of ladders and step stools can be performed with the help of a checklist (see DGUV Information 208-016), for example. You should also take note of the manufacturer's information regarding inspection.

Make sure that

• defective ladders and step stools are not used (instruction)
• remove defective ladders from use, and store them in such a way that makes it impossible for them to be used until they are properly repaired or scrapped (measures include storing them separately, chaining them together, and adding prominent markings or labels).