A pre-use check for portable ladders and a periodic inspection record.
Falls from ladders are a common cause of workplace injuries. Many are linked to damaged equipment that a quick look would have caught.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and the safety rules that apply to your work. This checklist does not replace them or training.
14 items. Complete it digitally or on paper, whichever your team prefers.
A retail store’s stockroom has three step ladders. During the monthly inspection, one has a cracked foot pad. It is tagged, removed and replaced the next day; the record shows the date and the replacement.
OSHA’s walking-working surfaces rule at 29 CFR 1910.23 requires ladders to be inspected before initial use in each work shift and defective ladders to be tagged and removed from service. A written periodic check adds a record on top of those daily looks.
| Ladder ID | GL-04, 8 ft fiberglass stepladder |
|---|---|
| Location | Greenhouse 2 |
| Rating label | Type IA, 300 lb, readable |
| Rails and steps | Surface chip on rail, no exposed fibers |
| Spreaders | Right spreader stuck, cleaned, now locks |
| Result | Pass, recheck the chip next month |
| Inspector and date | Caleb, Oct 30 |
Greenway Garden Center in Asheville passed this ladder because the chip is cosmetic. If fibers were showing or the rail was cracked, the result would be fail and the ladder tagged out.
Before each use, plus periodic inspections per your rules.
A competent, trained person.
Only as the manufacturer allows.
Use suitable non-conductive ladders near electrical hazards.
The duty rating is the most weight the ladder is built to hold, counting the person plus clothing, tools and materials. Type III is 200 lb, Type II is 225 lb, Type I is 250 lb, Type IA is 300 lb and Type IAA is 375 lb. A 220 lb worker with a 20 lb toolbag needs at least Type I.
Set the base one foot out from the wall for every four feet of height up to where the ladder rests. For access to a roof, the side rails should extend at least three feet above the landing. Both points come from OSHA’s ladder rules for construction.
More for the same job
Once the ladder inspection checklist is in place, the next question is usually about shifts and hours. Book a demo to see how EZTime handles scheduling and time tracking.