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Ladders and Step Platforms Risk Assessment

Ladders and Step Platforms Risk Assessment

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Ladders and Step Platforms Risk Assessment

Product Overview

Identify and control organisational risks associated with Ladders and Step Platforms Risk Management by systematically reviewing governance, planning, equipment selection and safe access systems across your operations. This management-level Risk Assessment supports executive Due Diligence, aligns with the WHS Act, and helps protect your business from regulatory non-compliance and operational liability.

Risk Categories & Hazards Covered

This document assesses risks and outlines management controls for:

  • Governance, WHS Duties and Consultation: Assessment of officer due diligence, PCBU obligations, consultation arrangements, and integration of ladder and access risks into the broader WHS management system.
  • Procurement and Design Selection of Ladders & Step Platforms: Management of equipment specification, conformity to standards, supplier verification, and lifecycle planning for portable access equipment.
  • Task Planning, Access Routes and Work Methods: Evaluation of how work at height is planned, including job design, alternative access options, traffic flows, and elimination or minimisation of ladder use where practicable.
  • Competency, Licensing and Training Systems: Controls for competency frameworks, induction content, refresher training and verification of competency for workers using ladders and step platforms.
  • Supervision, Enforcement and Behavioural Expectations: Protocols for frontline supervision, enforcement of safe use rules, and managing at-risk behaviours and non-compliance trends.
  • Inspection, Maintenance and Condition Monitoring: Systems for pre-use checks, scheduled inspections, defect reporting, tagging-out, and retirement criteria for damaged or non-compliant equipment.
  • Access Infrastructure and Fixed Access Systems: Assessment of walk pads, ramps, walkways, fixed ladders and access points to ensure safe integration with portable ladders and step platforms.
  • Climbing Techniques, Manual Handling and Tool Use: Management of safe climbing practices, three‑point contact, handling of tools and materials on ladders, and controls for overreaching and instability.
  • Work Environment, Housekeeping and Site Conditions: Evaluation of ground conditions, weather, lighting, housekeeping, and interaction with vehicles, plant and other site activities.
  • Non-Standard Structures and Improvised Access: Controls for climbing fences, walls and other non-designed structures, including prohibition policies and escalation procedures.
  • Ropes, Fall Protection and Climbing Equipment: Assessment of when higher-order controls are required, including harness systems, anchor points, ropes and associated rescue considerations.
  • Contractor Management and Third-Party Interface: Requirements for contractor prequalification, scope definition, supervision and alignment of contractor ladder-use procedures with site standards.
  • Emergency Response, First Aid and Rescue Preparedness: Planning for falls, entrapment and medical emergencies, including response times, equipment availability and worker training.
  • Incident Reporting, Investigation and Continuous Improvement: Systems for capturing near misses and incidents, root cause analysis, corrective actions and review of ladder-related controls.
  • Health, Fitness for Work and Human Factors: Consideration of medical fitness, fatigue, impairment, ergonomics and human error in the safe use of ladders and step platforms.

Who is this for?

This Risk Assessment is designed for Business Owners, Officers, Safety Managers and Project Leaders responsible for planning, approving and overseeing any work involving ladders and step platforms across their organisation.

Hazards & Risks Covered

Hazard Risk Description
1. Governance, WHS Duties and Consultation
  • • Lack of clear organisational policy on ladder and step platform use leading to inconsistent practices
  • • PCBU and Officers not understanding due diligence obligations under WHS Act 2011 for work at height and access systems
  • • Insufficient consultation with workers and HSRs on ladder-related risks and control measures
  • • No formal process to review incidents, near misses and legislative changes relating to ladders and climbing access
  • • Inadequate integration of ladder risk management into overall WHS management system
2. Ladder and Access Equipment Procurement and Design Selection
  • • Procurement of non-compliant ladders, step platforms or ramps not meeting Australian Standards (e.g. AS/NZS 1892, AS/NZS 1576, AS/NZS 1657)
  • • Selection of ladders instead of safer engineered access (e.g. fixed stairs, platforms, walk pads, ramps) due to cost or convenience
  • • Inadequate consideration of tasks requiring climbing fences or walls or using ropes, resulting in makeshift systems
  • • Use of domestic grade equipment in commercial or industrial environments
  • • Incompatibility between ladders, roof walk pads, ladder accesses and existing structures creating instability or entrapment risks
3. Planning of Tasks, Access Routes and Work Methods
  • • Inadequate planning for ascending and descending routes leading to workers carrying loads, overreaching or using unsuitable access points
  • • Failure to identify and plan for the need to climb fences or walls, resulting in unsafe shortcuts
  • • Lack of consideration of environmental factors (wind, wet surfaces, uneven ground) in ladder and ramp use
  • • Ad-hoc decisions to use ladders instead of safer methods due to time pressure or poor job planning
  • • No formal process to determine when ropes, fall protection or alternative access systems are necessary
4. Competency, Licensing and Training Systems
  • • Workers using ladders, step platforms, ramps and walkways without adequate competency in safe climbing techniques
  • • Lack of training on specific risks of ascending and descending, including carrying tools and materials
  • • No formal competency requirements for tasks involving ropes or specialised climbing equipment
  • • Supervisors unable to recognise unsafe ladder set-up or use due to insufficient training
  • • Inconsistent induction for contractors regarding site-specific ladder and access rules
5. Supervision, Enforcement and Behavioural Expectations
  • • Inconsistent supervision of ladder and access work leading to normalisation of unsafe shortcuts
  • • Tolerance of unsafe behaviour such as overreaching, standing on top rungs or climbing fences without proper equipment
  • • Lack of enforcement of rules relating to use of walk pads, designated ladders and access points
  • • Workers not reporting unsafe practices for fear of reprisal or due to poor safety culture
  • • Supervisors prioritising productivity over compliance with access procedures
6. Inspection, Maintenance and Condition Monitoring of Equipment
  • • Use of damaged or worn ladders, step platforms, ramps or walkways due to lack of inspection systems
  • • Walk pads, ladder accesses and ramps becoming loose, corroded or degraded without detection
  • • Ropes and climbing equipment not inspected to manufacturer or standard requirements
  • • Contamination (oil, mud, moss) on treads and walkways increasing slip risk during ascending and descending
  • • No tagging or isolation system for defective access equipment
7. Access Infrastructure: Walk Pads, Ramps, Walkways and Ladder Access Systems
  • • Inadequate or poorly designed walk pads on roofs leading to slips, trips or falls
  • • Ramps and walkways with unsuitable gradients, widths or guardrails for safe ascent and descent
  • • Unprotected edges or gaps near ladder access points creating fall hazards when transitioning
  • • Lack of clearly designated travel paths resulting in workers walking on fragile or uneven surfaces
  • • Improperly secured portable ladder accesses causing movement during use
8. Climbing Techniques, Manual Handling and Use of Tools/Materials
  • • Unsafe climbing techniques such as facing away from ladders, skipping rungs or sliding down during descent
  • • Carrying heavy or awkward tools and materials while ascending or descending, compromising three-point contact
  • • Improvised lifting using ropes or makeshift systems without proper controls
  • • Overreaching from ladders or step platforms instead of repositioning equipment
  • • Lack of systems to control dropped objects when working at height from ladders or walkways
9. Work Environment, Housekeeping and Site Conditions
  • • Poor housekeeping around ladder bases, ramps and walkways creating trip and snag hazards
  • • Adverse weather (rain, wind, heat) affecting stability and grip during ascent and descent
  • • Inadequate lighting on access ways, especially when climbing fences, walls or fixed ladders
  • • Uncontrolled vehicular or plant movement near ladder set-up areas
  • • Ground conditions not assessed, leading to ladder movement or sinking
10. Climbing Fences, Walls and Non-Standard Structures
  • • Workers climbing over fences, walls or barriers without engineered access points or fall protection
  • • Use of non-structural elements (pipes, brackets, mesh) as footholds or handholds
  • • Uncontrolled access to neighbouring properties, restricted areas or different levels
  • • Lack of assessment of structural integrity of fences or walls when used for access or anchorage
  • • Potential for entanglement or snagging on barbed wire, mesh or protrusions during ascent/descent
11. Use of Ropes, Fall Protection and Climbing Equipment
  • • Incorrect selection or use of ropes, harnesses, lanyards or anchorage points for climbing or fall restraint
  • • Rope access or assisted climbing used as an informal solution without proper planning or competency verification
  • • Failure to inspect and retire rope and textile equipment in line with manufacturer guidance
  • • Inadequate rescue planning for workers using ropes or climbing systems in conjunction with ladders and platforms
  • • Anchorage points installed or used without engineering verification
12. Contractor Management and Third-Party Interface
  • • Contractors using non-compliant ladders, ramps or walkways that do not meet site standards
  • • Inconsistent application of safe climbing techniques and rope use by different contractors
  • • Lack of clarity regarding responsibility for installing and maintaining walk pads and ladder access systems on shared sites
  • • Uncontrolled modification or removal of fixed access systems by third parties
  • • Contractors bypassing fence or wall access controls to save time
13. Emergency Response, First Aid and Rescue Preparedness
  • • Delayed response to falls or incidents on ladders, ramps, walkways or when climbing fences/walls
  • • Lack of rescue capability for workers using ropes or climbing systems in confined or elevated areas
  • • Inadequate communication systems for workers accessing remote rooftops or isolated ladder access points
  • • First aiders not trained to manage fall-related injuries
  • • Emergency procedures not accounting for complexities of evacuating injured persons from elevated access routes
14. Incident Reporting, Investigation and Continuous Improvement
  • • Underreporting of ladder, climbing and access near misses, leading to missed learning opportunities
  • • Superficial investigations that focus on worker behaviour rather than system and management failures
  • • No mechanism to track trends in ladder-related incidents across multiple sites
  • • Failure to update procedures, training or infrastructure following significant incidents
  • • Limited communication of lessons learned to workers and contractors
15. Health, Fitness for Work and Human Factors
  • • Workers with reduced mobility, balance or strength performing tasks involving ladders and climbing
  • • Fatigue, heat stress or medical conditions affecting concentration and coordination during ascent and descent
  • • Psychological factors such as fear of heights leading to unsafe movements or rushed climbing
  • • Inadequate consideration of age and physical capability in job allocation for ladder-related tasks
  • • Use of medication or substances that impair judgement or balance

Need to add specific hazards for your workplace?

Don't worry if a specific hazard isn't listed above. Once you purchase, simply log in to your Client Portal and add your own custom hazards at no extra cost. We take care of the hard work—creating the risk ratings and control measures for free—to ensure your document is compliant within minutes.

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

  • Work Health and Safety Act 2011
  • Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017
  • Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice: Guidance on controlling fall risks associated with ladders and access systems.
  • How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice: Framework for identifying, assessing and controlling WHS risks.
  • Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice: Requirements for safe access, egress and workplace conditions.
  • AS/NZS ISO 31000:2018: Risk management — Guidelines.
  • AS/NZS 1892 Portable Ladders (Series): Design, construction, testing and safe use requirements for portable ladders.
  • AS/NZS 1657:2018: Fixed platforms, walkways, stairways and ladders — Design, construction and installation.
  • AS/NZS 1891 Industrial Fall-Arrest Systems and Devices (Series): Selection, use and maintenance of fall-arrest equipment where used in conjunction with ladders.
  • AS/NZS 4801 / ISO 45001: Occupational health and safety management systems — Requirements for systematic WHS governance.
Standard Risk Assessment Features (Click to Expand)
  • Comprehensive hazard identification for all activities
  • Risk rating matrix with likelihood and consequence analysis
  • Existing control measures evaluation
  • Residual risk assessment after controls
  • Hierarchy of controls recommendations
  • Action priority rankings
  • Review and monitoring requirements
  • Consultation and communication records
  • Legal compliance references
  • Sign-off and approval sections

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