How to Spot an Unsafe Ladder

Before carrying out any kind of work using a ladder, it is essential that you carry out a pre-use check to spot any obvious visual defects and ensure the ladder is safe to use. This pre-use check should be carried out by the user before every single use of the ladder, while detailed visual assessments should be carried out every three to six months or in accordance with the manufacturer guidelines.

For our top tips on how to spot an unsafe ladder, keep reading this blog!

Which Areas Do I Need To Inspect?

Rungs and Stiles

Check the rungs and stiles for cracks, dents, bends and rust - damage like this can affect the ladder’s structural stability and lead to a fall. You should also ensure that all rungs are secure and not loose or wobbly as this can cause them to break away from the ladder when weight is applied.

Feet and Feet Caps

Inspect your ladder’s feet and feet caps for damage, wear or missing parts. Ladder feet are crucial for stability and preventing slips and so it is important that they are slip-resistant and in good condition.

Locking Mechanisms

Proper locking is essential for a ladder’s overall stability and support, especially for multi-section and extension ladders. This is why you should thoroughly check that the hinges, spreader bars and locking mechanisms work properly and lock securely in place.

Labels

In order to ensure safe ladder usage, it is vital that all safety labels, warnings and weight capacity information is legible and intact. An illegible or missing label will mean that you won’t have critical safety information, significantly increasing the risk of serious injury or death from falls.

Connections and Joints

Joints are critical structural points and any damage to the connections or joints between stiles and rungs can cause the ladder to give way under weight. To ensure your ladder connections and joints are in good condition, you should inspect all hardware, bolts and fittings to confirm they are securely attached and also check that all connections between sections are secure.

Overall Condition

Once you have inspected each area of your ladder individually, you will want to do one final sweep looking for any signs of corrosion, sharp edges or excessive wear that could indicate a safety risk.

What Should I Do if I Spot Damage?

If you spot any of the defects listed above, you should not use the ladder. You should immediately take the ladder out of use and clearly label it as “damaged” or “out of service” and then notify your employer or the person in charge of the work about the specific damage you found.

Under no circumstances should you try to make temporary repairs or use the ladder until it is fixed or replaced by a qualified professional.

If your ladder has been deemed unsafe and unusable and you’re looking for a replacement, you won’t find a better range of ladders to pick from than our collection at Ladders UK Direct. Use the button below to browse our selection.

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If you have any questions about how to spot an unsafe ladder or the range of ladders we sell here at Ladders UK Direct, get in touch with us today and a member of our team will be happy to help!