Roof Access Ladders Safety Guidelines

A good roof access ladders safety practice combines experience, risk assessment and maintenance.  To ensure you are confident working with roof access ladders take the time to check if you have a good roof access ladders work routine.

Remember that using roof access ladders is not for everyone.  If you are someone who lacks experience with ladders in general then reconsider getting someone else to do the job.  Roof access ladders requires a good sense of balance and confident.  The physical condition and coordination of the person working on roof access ladders is of the utmost importance.

1. Firstly you need to know when it is necessary to use this type of ladder.
2. Then you must decide which roof access ladder is best for the job in hand.
3. You must understand how to use it and have the physical ability to do so with confidence.
4. Understand how to look after the roof ladder and develop a suitable maintenance routine.
5. Always take sensible safety precautions before, during and after the work.

Between 20-30% of all the reported accidents of the fall-from-height category involve ladders.  This accounts for 14 deaths and 1200 major injuries each year to workers.  More than 70% of fatal fall injuries occur from a height of more than two metres.

The provisional figure for the number of workers fatally injured in 2008/09 is 180.  This brings the level of fatal injury to 0.6% per 100,000 workers.  The good news is that this figure is 22% lower than the average for the past five years.  Also in comparison with data from other EU countries over a number of years it shows that the Great Britain is consistently amongst the lowest in Europe.

Make sure you work safely by applying these roof access ladders safety guidelines.

Before using stepladders it is necessary to check them in order to ensure that they are in a safe condition to be used. Stiles should be checked to see if they are have bent or damaged in any way. If they are you should not use the stepladder as it could collapse or buckle under you. Locking Devices must not have fixings that are worn too much, bent or damaged. If any of these are the case stepladders in this condition should not be used as they can collapse. Platforms of stepladders need to be examined before use to ensure that it has not become buckled or split. If there is any doubt do not use the stepladder as it could become unstable and even collapse. Treads/steps should be checked to see if they have become contaminated with dirt or any slippery substances. Also check their fixings which could have become loose and therefore the ladder is not suitable to use. Non slip feet should be in place and not damaged or worn out. If they are either missing or worn do not use the stepladder. These safety checks need to be done at the beginning of each working day whether at home or in the workplace, as you cannot be sure of the state of the stepladder until you do so. It does not take very much time and could prevent an unnecessary accident involving stepladders.