Ladders, trestles and scaffolding
Relevant people must prevent or minimise risks from using a ladder.
Single or extension ladders may only be used to:
- gain access
- carry out permitted work, section of the Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 2008 where the material or equipment being carried does not restrict movement or cause loss of balance; the trunk of the body remains centred on the ladder; and equipment can be used with one hand (unless a control to prevent a fall is used).
A person using a ladder for access or permitted work must either:
- have three points of substantial contact with the ladder or a stable object, for example, standing on the ladder with two feet while holding a fascia board or timber stud
- prevent falls with a control measure, for example, a pole strap
- use a fall-arrest harness system (not attached to the ladder).
The ladder must have a load rating of not less than 120kg and be:
- secured against movement at or near its top or bottom, for example, by tying or clamping
- manufactured for industrial use
- used only for the designed purpose
- not more than 6.1 metres for a single ladder
- not more than 9.2 metres for an extension ladder used for electrical work or 7.5 metres for other work
- on a firm and stable surface
- erected at an angle between 70° and 80°
- extended at least 1 metre above a surface being accessed.
Relevant people must prevent or minimise risks from working on a platform supported by a trestle ladder.
Platforms used on trestle ladders below 3 metres for housing construction or 2 metres for other construction must be:
- 450 mm wide, or
- 225 mm wide if it is light work. Examples of light work include:
- painting
- installing a roof gutter, air-conditioning duct, metal fascia or lighting
- placing pine roof trusses in position
- performing inspections or tests
- installing an electrical connection.
Fixing plaster board sheeting to an internal stairwell void, fixing cladding to a gable end of a roof or using a medium or heavy duty angle grinder or circular saw are not considered light work.
For work on a trestle ladder at 3 metres or more for housing construction or 2 metres or more for other construction:
- the trestle ladder must have edge protection
- each trestle ladder must be secured to prevent it moving, for example, tying the ladder to a sturdy wall or bracing it to the ground
- the platform must have an unobstructed surface width of 450mm
- not be higher than 5 metres.
A person erecting or dismantling scaffolding 3 metres or more in housing construction or 2 metres or more in other construction must:
- be prevented from falling
- use a fall arrest harness system, or
- immediately install platforms, edge protection and a means of access as each level is erected and retain a full deck of platform until the platforms are transferred.
More information on scaffolding is provided in the Scaffolding Code of Practice 2009.
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