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Ladders Risk Assessment

Ladders Risk Assessment

  • • 100% Compliant with Australian WHS Acts & Regulations
  • • Fully Editable MS Word & PDF Formats Included
  • • Pre-filled Content – Ready to Deploy Immediately
  • • Customisable – Easily Add Your Logo & Site Details
  • • Includes 2 Years of Free Compliance Updates

Ladders Risk Assessment

Product Overview

Identify and control organisational risks associated with ladder selection, use and management with this comprehensive Ladders Risk Assessment, built as a governance and planning tool for your WHS management system. Demonstrate Due Diligence, support compliance with the WHS Act, and reduce organisational exposure to operational liability across all ladder-related activities.

Risk Categories & Hazards Covered

This document assesses risks and outlines management controls for:

  • WHS Governance, Policy and Legislative Compliance: Assessment of organisational policies, responsibilities and consultation arrangements to ensure ladder use is managed in line with WHS legislation and internal governance requirements.
  • Ladder Procurement, Design and Suitability: Management of purchasing standards, supplier selection and verification that ladder types, ratings and materials are suitable for the intended tasks and environments.
  • Ladder Inspection, Maintenance and Asset Management: Systems for pre-use checks, formal inspections, tagging, defect reporting, repair or disposal, and lifecycle tracking of all ladder assets.
  • Competency, Training and Supervision: Requirements for competency-based training, induction, supervision levels and refresher programs to ensure workers understand safe ladder selection and use limitations.
  • Work Planning, Task Design and Ladder Use Limitations: Controls for determining when ladders are appropriate versus higher-order controls, including task risk assessments, duration limits and alternatives such as platforms or scaffolds.
  • Site Conditions, Surface Management and Ladder Placement Controls: Evaluation of ground conditions, access routes, traffic interfaces, securing methods and exclusion zones to minimise instability and tip-over risks.
  • Working at Height, Fall Prevention and Roof Access Systems: Integration of ladder use within broader fall prevention strategies, including three points of contact, roof access systems, edge protection and rescue considerations.
  • Tools, Materials Handling and Interaction with Other Plant: Protocols for managing carried loads, tool storage, material hoisting and interactions with forklifts, vehicles and other mobile plant near ladder work areas.
  • Contractor, Warehouse and Multi-Use Environment Management: Controls for shared workplaces, contractor management, warehouse racking access, mezzanine areas and multi-employer environments where ladders are used.
  • Incident Reporting, Monitoring and Continuous Improvement: Processes for reporting ladder-related incidents, near misses and hazards, trend analysis, audit programs and corrective actions to continually improve WHS risk management.

Who is this for?

This Risk Assessment is designed for Business Owners, Safety Managers, Operations Leaders and WHS Advisors responsible for planning, approving and overseeing ladder-related work across their organisation.

Hazards & Risks Covered

Hazard Risk Description
1. WHS Governance, Policy and Legislative Compliance
  • • Absence of an organisation-wide ladder safety policy aligned with WHS Act 2011, WHS Regulations and relevant Australian Standards (e.g. AS 1892 series, AS/NZS 1891 when used with fall-arrest)
  • • Lack of clear management commitment to eliminating ladder use where reasonably practicable by adopting safer access systems (e.g. platforms, scaffolds, EWP, fixed stairs and roof access systems)
  • • Inadequate integration of ladder risk management into the overall WHS management system, including consultation, risk assessment, and change management procedures
  • • No clear criteria for when ladders may be used versus when they are prohibited (e.g. working at height for extended duration, high-force tasks such as drilling, use on slopes or uneven ground, roof access, order picking above a set height)
  • • Failure to consider high-risk construction work requirements when ladders are used for tasks such as work at a risk of a fall more than 2 metres or on roofs
  • • Poor governance over contractor ladder use, including failure to specify minimum ladder standards and safe work requirements in contractor management systems
  • • Lack of documented ladder emergency response and rescue planning for falls from height or ladder collapse events
  • • Insufficient monitoring of legal and standard updates related to ladders, roof access, and fall prevention
2. Ladder Procurement, Design and Suitability
  • • Procurement of ladders that do not comply with relevant Australian Standards or are unsuitable for industrial / commercial use
  • • Purchasing ladders without consideration of task, environment and user requirements (e.g. weight rating, height, electrics, slope, surface, order picking function, platform needs)
  • • Use of domestic-grade, light-duty or non-rated ladders in industrial or construction environments
  • • Inadequate features on ladders for safe use on uneven ground or slopes (e.g. no adjustable feet, no stabilisers, no capacity to chock or level safely)
  • • Procurement of extension ladders and step ladders without integral safety enhancements (e.g. anti-slip feet, locking spreaders, handrails on platform ladders, safety gates on order picking ladders)
  • • Failure to design or procure safe fixed access systems (e.g. staircases, roof access stairs, walkways) resulting in over-reliance on portable ladders for roof access and high work spots
  • • Acquisition of petrol-powered ladder lifts or mechanical ladder devices without appropriate guarding, controls, and integration into plant risk management processes
  • • Inconsistent suppliers and lack of specification control leading to a mix of different ladder types, ratings and conditions across sites
3. Ladder Inspection, Maintenance and Asset Management
  • • Use of defective or damaged ladders (e.g. bent stiles, cracked treads, worn feet, loose rivets, damaged ropes on extension ladders, faulty locking mechanisms on step and platform ladders)
  • • Failure to identify ladder defects that increase the risk of falls, collapse, or sudden movement, particularly under load or when used on uneven or unstable ground
  • • Inadequate management of ladder foot condition, resulting in poor grip and increased ladder footfall risks on smooth, sloping or contaminated surfaces
  • • Lack of formal ladder asset register and tracking leading to uncertain ownership, inspection status, and maintenance history
  • • Improvised on-site repairs that compromise ladder integrity (e.g. welding, drilling extra holes, replacing rungs with non-approved components, modifying platform ladders or order picking ladders)
  • • No system to promptly remove, tag out and dispose of ladders that fail inspection or are no longer fit for use
  • • Environmental degradation of ladders due to exposure to weather, chemicals, or impact (e.g. aluminium corrosion, fibreglass UV degradation) not being systematically monitored
4. Competency, Training and Supervision
  • • Workers and supervisors lacking formal training in ladder selection, set-up, use and limitations, including the specific risks of working on slopes, uneven ground, or near edges and voids
  • • Inadequate understanding of safe ladder angles, securing methods, chocking on slopes, use of platform and order picking ladders, and conditions under which ladders must not be used
  • • Lack of competency in assessing surfaces and ladder placement risks, leading to unstable ladder work on slippery, contaminated or uneven surfaces
  • • Workers not trained in safe methods for transporting tools and materials up ladders, resulting in overreaching, loss of three points of contact, and falls from steps
  • • Supervisors unable to recognise unsafe ladder behaviours or incorrect ladder types being used for tasks such as drilling, painting, cleaning, or accessing roofs
  • • Inadequate induction for new workers, temporary staff and contractors around site-specific ladder rules, including roof access permit requirements and restrictions on petrol ladder lift use
  • • No refresher training or competency reassessment following incidents or near misses involving ladders
5. Work Planning, Task Design and Ladder Use Limitations
  • • Use of ladders for tasks that exceed safe use parameters, such as long-duration work, tasks requiring significant side loading or force (e.g. drilling operations, heavy scraping, grinding), or work requiring two hands without additional support
  • • Inadequate planning for work sequences leading to ad hoc ladder use for painting, cleaning, high-level maintenance, or accessing hard-to-reach areas without considering alternative controls
  • • Reliance on ladders for order picking above safe heights or with heavy and awkward loads, increasing the risk of falls from steps and dropped objects
  • • Poor design of plant and buildings (e.g. lack of built-in service platforms or fixed access to roofs and high spots), embedding long-term dependence on ladders
  • • Failure to consider environmental conditions (e.g. wind, rain, floor contaminants, lighting) during work planning, leading to increased ladder slip and instability risks
  • • Lack of integration of ladder risks into job planning tools such as job safety analyses (JSAs), permits to work, or safe work method statements for tasks involving work at height
6. Site Conditions, Surface Management and Ladder Placement Controls
  • • Placement of ladders on uneven, sloping or unstable ground without adequate assessment or controls, leading to ladder movement, sliding or overturning
  • • Failure to manage surface contaminants (e.g. dust, oil, water, loose materials) that increase ladder footfall risks and reduce friction between ladder feet and the ground
  • • Use of ladders on soft soils, penetrable surfaces (e.g. garden beds, insulation, false floors), or near edges and voids where ground failure or tipping may occur
  • • Inadequate measures to chock or level ladders on slopes, or reliance on makeshift supports such as blocks of wood, bricks or pallets
  • • Ladders used in high-traffic or vehicle areas without segregation, increasing risk of impact or sudden movement from contact
  • • Use of ladders on or adjacent to staircases without engineered provisions (e.g. platforms, stabilising brackets) for safe access
  • • Poor lighting, visibility or environmental conditions (e.g. wind gusts) at the ladder location affecting user stability and balance
7. Working at Height, Fall Prevention and Roof Access Systems
  • • Workers falling from ladders while accessing roofs, platforms or other elevated surfaces due to inadequate fall prevention measures at access and egress points
  • • Reliance on ladders as the primary control for access to roofs, increasing exposure to falls from height and interaction with fragile roofing materials
  • • Inadequate control of work at height on ladders beyond safe reach or duration, including tasks such as cleaning, painting, maintenance or drilling at high levels
  • • Lack of integration between ladder use and broader fall prevention systems (e.g. guardrails, roof anchors, fall arrest, work positioning systems)
  • • Use of ladders on or adjacent to fragile surfaces (e.g. skylights, brittle roofing) without controls to prevent falls through the surface
  • • Poor management of edge protection and safe movement once workers transition from ladders onto roofs or other elevated structures
8. Tools, Materials Handling and Interaction with Other Plant
  • • Workers carrying tools, equipment or materials while climbing ladders, leading to loss of grip, imbalance and increased likelihood of falls from steps
  • • Use of power tools such as drills and grinders on ladders without suitable support, resulting in side loading, sudden torque reactions and unstable ladder work
  • • Operation of petrol ladder lifts or mechanical ladder devices without integration into traffic, plant and pedestrian management systems
  • • Dropping tools or materials from ladders, posing a risk to people below, especially in shared workspaces and warehouses
  • • Use of ladders in close proximity to operating plant (e.g. forklifts, order picking machines, conveyors) without coordination, increasing collision or entanglement risk
  • • Lack of systems for selecting appropriate alternatives (e.g. tool hoists, mechanical lifts, order picking equipment) when task demands exceed safe ladder handling limits
9. Contractor, Warehouse and Multi-Use Environment Management
  • • Contractors bringing and using ladders that do not meet organisational or Australian Standards requirements, especially in construction or maintenance projects
  • • Inconsistent ladder practices across different areas (e.g. warehouses, maintenance workshops, offices, external grounds) leading to confusion and non-compliance
  • • Order picking activities carried out on inappropriate ladders or improvised equipment in warehouses, exposing workers to falls and musculoskeletal strain
  • • Use of platform and step ladders in congested warehouse aisles or around racking without adequate space and controls, increasing risks of collision or tip-over
  • • Insufficient communication of ladder and height safety rules to visiting workers or contractors undertaking short-duration tasks such as cleaning, painting or minor repairs
  • • Failure to coordinate ladder use with other high-risk activities in shared spaces (e.g. simultaneous forklift operation, pallet stacking, overhead crane use)
10. Incident Reporting, Monitoring and Continuous Improvement
  • • Ladder-related incidents, near misses and unsafe behaviours not being reported, analysed or acted upon, allowing systemic issues to persist
  • • Lack of performance indicators specific to ladder and work-at-height risks, limiting management visibility of problem areas such as unstable ladder work or falls from steps
  • • Inadequate investigation of falls, equipment failures or surface-related ladder events (e.g. slip of ladder feet on uneven or sloping ground) resulting in repeated patterns of failure
  • • No structured process to review and improve ladder-related policies, procedures, training and procurement based on monitoring outcomes
  • • Workers and supervisors becoming complacent about ladder risks due to infrequent serious incidents, leading to gradual erosion of safe practices

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 risks associated with work at height, including ladder use.
  • How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice: Framework for identifying hazards, assessing risks and implementing controls.
  • Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice: Requirements for safe access, egress and workplace conditions relevant to ladder placement and use.
  • AS/NZS 1892 (Series) – Portable Ladders: Design, construction, testing and safe use requirements for portable ladders.
  • AS/NZS 1891 (Series) – Industrial Fall-Arrest Systems and Devices: Guidance on harnesses, lanyards and anchorage where used in conjunction with ladder and roof access systems.
  • AS 1657 – Fixed Platforms, Walkways, Stairways and Ladders: Design and construction requirements for fixed ladders and access systems.
  • AS/NZS ISO 45001:2018: Occupational health and safety management systems — Requirements with guidance for use.
  • AS/NZS ISO 31000:2018: Risk management — Guidelines
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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