Ladders

What they are and why they are a relevant risk

The ladder is a seemingly simple piece of equipment, but its frequent use in maintenance, installations, commerce, warehousing, cleaning, and construction makes it the source of numerous falls from heights, resulting in serious and fatal injuries. The causes are often the same: prolonged use of the ladder as a work platform when other equipment should be used, unstable supports or incorrect angles, defective or improvised ladders, working with hands occupied or using lateral forces, and climbing with loads or backwards.

Directive 2001/45/EC, incorporated into Royal Decree 1215/1997 by Royal Decree 2177/2004, established the hierarchy for selecting equipment for temporary work at height: priority is given to collective protection measures and equipment offering the best protection, and the use of ladders is permitted only when justified by low risk, short duration, or site conditions that preclude other equipment. This rule is key to prevention: before climbing a ladder, one must ask whether the work should be carried out from a platform, scaffolding, or a lifting platform.

Ladders sold must comply with the UNE-EN 131 standard in its various parts (terms, requirements and tests, marking and instructions, ladders with joints, telescopic ladders), which since 2018 distinguishes between professional and non-professional use; the INSST NTP 239 on manual ladders and the INSST booklet on safe use of ladders contain the rules for selection, inspection and use.

Requirements for use (Annex II of Royal Decree 1215/1997)

• Choice. Use as a work platform at height only when other safer equipment is not justified by the low level of risk and the characteristics of the site; ladders with adequate strength and support and restraint elements.
• Stability. Placement on a firm, resistant and stable surface, with non-slip supports; step ladders with a device that limits their opening; prohibition of improvised ladders.
• Angle and projection. Support ladders form an approximate angle of 75 degrees with the horizontal and, when used for access, extend at least one meter above the landing level or have a safety handrail.
• Composite and extendable ladders. Immobilization of the sections and assembly according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Use. Ascending, descending and working facing the ladder; transporting light loads that allow for secure grip; simultaneous use by two or more people is prohibited; do not use ladders longer than five meters without guarantees of resistance.
• Fall protection. Work at heights greater than 3.5 meters that requires movements or efforts dangerous to stability must be carried out only with personal fall protection equipment or alternative measures.
• Inspection and maintenance. Periodic review of stringers, steps, feet, joints and opening devices; removal of defective stairs; prohibition of painted wooden stairs that conceal defects.

Good selection and use practices

• Suitable type. Support ladder for access, step ladder for short jobs without support available, with sufficient height so as not to work on the last rungs or at the top of the step.
• Professional class. Ladders compliant with UNE-EN 131 for professional use in the workplace, with marking and maximum load.
• Environment. Avoid slippery surfaces, uneven levels, doors that can open, vehicle traffic areas and proximity to power lines; use insulated ladders when working on electrical projects.
• Securing the ladder. Fix the ladder from the top or have a second person hold it when it is not possible to fix it, and avoid lateral forces.
• Three points of support. Always keep two hands and one foot or two feet and one hand in contact with the ladder; use tool belts.
• Training. Practical instruction on selection, placement, use and inspection, and clear criteria for deciding when to use other equipment.

Organizational application: how to manage the use of ladders

1. Identify tasks at height and decide, with the risk assessment, which ones can be performed with a ladder and which ones require a platform, scaffolding or lifting platform.
2. Acquire ladders that comply with UNE-EN 131 for professional use, with the appropriate height and type for each task, and remove improvised or non-compliant ladders.
3. Inventory the stairs, identify them, and establish periodic inspections with a checklist and immediate removal of defective ones.
4. Write a brief instruction manual: placement, angle, fastening, three points of support, prohibitions and actions in electrical work.
5. To provide practical training to the staff and reinforce the criteria for equipment selection.
6. Define the mandatory use of fall protection PPE or alternative measures in work at heights greater than 3.5 meters with hazardous exertion.
7. Analyze ladder incidents and review equipment assignments for tasks where they are repeated.

Preventive management software allows you to record the inventory of ladders, their inspections and disposals, the instructions and training of personnel, and link incidents to the review of tasks at height.

Limits and common mistakes

1. Using the ladder as a prolonged work station when the job requires a platform or scaffolding.
2. Place it at an incorrect angle, on unstable surfaces, or without exceeding one meter from the access point.
3. Climbing backwards, carrying heavy loads or with both hands occupied, and working on the top steps.
4. Use stepladders partially open or as support ladders.
5. Maintaining damaged, improvised, or painted wooden ladders in service.
6. Working near power lines with metal ladders.

The requirements are detailed in Annex II of Royal Decree 1215/1997 and in NTP 239 of the INSST; this sheet is for informational purposes.

Regulatory and reference framework

• Royal Decree 1215/1997, of July 18, Annex II . Provisions relating to the use of ladders in temporary work at height.
• Royal Decree 2177/2004, of November 12. Amendment of Royal Decree 1215/1997 regarding temporary work at height.
• NTP 239: Manual ladders (INSST) . Technical note on types, risks, rules of use and inspection.
• Technical guide for the assessment and prevention of risks related to the use of work equipment (INSST) . Criteria for the application of Royal Decree 1215/1997, including temporary work at height.
• Law 31/1995, article 15. Principles of preventive action and priority of collective protection.

The UNE-EN 131 series standards (ladders) are acquired through the Spanish Association for Standardization; the INSST has an application and a brochure on the safe use of ladders.