Product Overview

Summary: This Ladder Use and Ladder Inspection SOP sets out clear, practical requirements for selecting, inspecting and using ladders safely in Australian workplaces. It helps businesses control fall-from-height risks, meet WHS obligations, and give workers simple, consistent steps to follow every time a ladder is used.

Falls from ladders remain one of the most common and preventable causes of serious injury in Australian workplaces. This Ladder Use and Ladder Inspection Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, easy-to-follow system for managing ladder-related risks from planning and selection through to inspection, use, storage and maintenance. It translates legislative and Australian Standard requirements into practical steps that workers and supervisors can apply on construction sites, in warehouses, workshops, offices, schools, health facilities and domestic-like workplaces.

By implementing this SOP, businesses establish a defensible, best-practice approach to ladder safety that supports their due diligence obligations under WHS laws. The document standardises how ladders are inspected before use, tagged out when defective, and used only for suitable tasks with appropriate controls in place. It reduces reliance on informal habits and “common sense” by setting clear limits on when ladders can be used, how they are to be set up and secured, and what alternative access equipment (such as platforms or scaffolds) should be considered. This not only reduces the likelihood of falls and musculoskeletal injuries, but also supports consistent training, incident investigation and continuous improvement in work-at-height practices.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the risk of falls from height by standardising safe ladder selection, setup and use across all work areas.
• Ensure compliance with Australian WHS legislation and relevant ladder safety standards through documented, repeatable procedures.
• Improve inspection quality and consistency with clear pre-use, scheduled and post-incident ladder inspection checklists.
• Support effective training and onboarding by giving workers and contractors a simple, step-by-step reference for ladder safety.
• Minimise downtime, rework and equipment damage by ensuring defective ladders are identified, tagged out and removed from service promptly.

Who is this for?

• Site Supervisors
• WHS Managers
• Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs)
• Construction Workers
• Maintenance Technicians
• Electricians
• Facility Managers
• Warehouse and Storepersons
• Cleaning and Property Services Staff
• Operations Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Falls from height due to ladder instability or incorrect positioning
• Ladder collapse or failure due to damage, overloading or poor maintenance
• Slips from ladder rungs caused by contamination, poor footwear or weather conditions
• Contact with electrical installations when using metal or conductive ladders near live parts
• Strains, sprains and musculoskeletal injuries from overreaching, carrying loads or incorrect climbing technique
• Trips and impact injuries from ladders left in access ways or stored incorrectly
• Falling objects striking people below due to tools or materials being handled unsafely on ladders

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Ladder Types
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice
• 5.0 Ladder Selection Criteria (Task, Environment and Load Rating)
• 6.0 Pre-use Ladder Inspection Procedure
• 7.0 Scheduled and Formal Ladder Inspection Requirements
• 8.0 Tagging, Defect Reporting and Removal from Service
• 9.0 Safe Ladder Setup and Positioning (including 4:1 rule and footing requirements)
• 10.0 Safe Ladder Use Practices (climbing, working from ladders, handling tools and materials)
• 11.0 Prohibited Uses and Limitations (including when ladders must not be used)
• 12.0 Electrical Safety Considerations for Ladder Use
• 13.0 Manual Handling and Transport of Ladders
• 14.0 Storage, Maintenance and Housekeeping Requirements
• 15.0 Training, Competency and Induction Requirements
• 16.0 Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement
• 17.0 References and Document Control

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Commonwealth and state/territory equivalents)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (particularly provisions relating to managing the risk of falls)
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces
• AS/NZS 1892.1: Portable ladders – Metal
• AS/NZS 1892.2: Portable ladders – Portable ladders for domestic use
• AS/NZS 1892.3: Portable ladders – Reinforced plastic
• AS/NZS 1892.5: Portable ladders – Selection, safe use and care
• AS/NZS 1657: Fixed platforms, walkways, stairways and ladders – Design, construction and installation (where fixed ladders are present)