NO. There are two types of inspectors. User Inspector and a Competent Person (CP).

User Inspections.

Before use inspections must be conducted certified end-user before each use, this person must be suitably trained in the basics of ladder Inspection. All reputable ladder safety training courses should cover basic pre-use ladder inspections as part of the user course; this is known as End-User inspection training.

Annual Inspections.

The law also stipulates that annual inspections must be performed by a competent person (CP), also following any event that may have affected the safe use of the ladders by a competent person (CP).

Ladder Types:

• Fixed Ladders
• Leaning Ladders
• “A” Frame Ladders
• Roof Ladders/hook Ladders

Because ladders don’t have expiry dates printed on them, it’s important to inspect your ladder frequently. We recommend a quick visual check before every use, plus a more thorough inspection every day, week, month depending on the frequency of use. 

Ladders account for many accidents in the workplace due to faults, and also due to inexperienced users. It is a leading cause of injury and personal injury claims in Ireland. Ladders need to be inspected every 6 months at a minimum.

Pre – use check – this is carried out by the user at the beginning of each shift to check there are no visible or surface defects. Any defects should be brought to the attention of your employer. Detailed inspection – a formally recorded inspection should be undertaken at least every 6 months.

The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) often create confusion when it comes to ladder inspections. While ladders are primarily used for access rather than lifting operations, they generally fall under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) rather than LOLER

In Canada, ladder inspections are crucial for workplace safety and are governed by provincial and territorial legislation. Inspections should be conducted regularly by a competent person, with a focus on identifying defects like broken rungs, damaged rails, or missing safety features. Defective ladders must be removed from service and either repaired or destroyed. 

Width between rails shall increase at least¼ inch (0.64 cm) for each additional 2 feet (0.61 m) of ladder length. Maintenance and inspection. Any other structural defect. Ladders shall be inspected for defects prior to each day’s use, and after any occurrence, such as a fall, which could damage the ladder.

Ladders shall be inspected by a competent person for visible defects on a periodic basis and after any occurrence that could affect their safe use.

Yes. All inspections must be documented and filed away by the competant person/employer. A full documentation process must be followed, form the time of purchase to the Ladder Distruction. Certivicates of conformaty must be provided if you are purchasing within the EU, Ireland and the UK. The documentation process for a competent person/ employer is an indepth one providing a fill history of the ladder form purchase to destriction. 

This Ladder Inspection training course provides a thorough understanding of ladder inspections. It looks at the legal requirement, ladder types and parts, common faults, the steps to inspection and what to do if a ladder is unsuitable for use. Normally this type of course is for a competent person who carrys out the detailed inspection onbehalf of the company, this can be a certified employee or contractor. 

Yes. To use a ladder, you must be competent or, if you are being trained, you should be working under the supervision of a competent person. Competence can be demonstrated through a combination of training, practical and theoretical knowledge, and experience.

Ladder Safety Training

Use a ladder only on a stable and level surface, unless it has been secured (top or bottom) to prevent displacement. Use the 4:1 rule when setting up a ladder. All Ladders must be secured to EN795 standards when in use. Maintain a minimum of three points of contact when climbing the ladder. All personell are required to ware PFPE when using a ladder., and have a fall protection system in place when using a ladder. 

Ladder Safety Training

Employers need to make sure that any ladder or stepladder is both suitable for the work task and in a safe condition before use. As a guide, only use ladders or stepladders that:

• have no visible defects. They should have a pre-use check each working day;
• have an up-to-date record of the detailed visual inspections carried out regularly by a competent person. These should be done in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Ladders that are part of a scaffold system still have to be inspected every seven days as part of the scaffold inspection requirements;
• are suitable for the intended use, ie are strong and robust enough for the job;
• have been maintained and stored in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

There are two methods for inspecting ladders:

1. Detailed visual inspections – these should be carried out regularly by a competent person. These inspections will be outlined in the manufacturer’s instruction manual.
2. Pre-use checks – these should be carried out by the user, at the beginning of the working day/before starting a task, and repeated every time something changes – like the ladder being dropped or moved to a different area.

Detailed visual inspections

A detailed visual inspection is similar to pre-use checks, in that it is used to spot defects and can be done on site by a competent employee. Pre-use checks make sure that a ladder is safe to use and are for the immediate benefit of the ladder user. These checks do not need to be recorded. Any problems or issues should be reported to a manager.

Detailed visual inspections are the responsibility of the employer. They should be carried out at fixed intervals and recorded. Records of these inspections provide a snapshot of the state of the ladders over time.

When doing an inspection, look for:

• damaged or worn ladder feet;
• twisted, bent or dented stiles;
• cracked, worn, bent or loose rungs;
• missing or damaged tie rods;
• cracked or damaged welded joints, loose rivets or damaged stays.

Pre-use checks and inspections of ladder stability devices and other accessories should be performed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Pre-use checks

The check should include:

• the stiles – make sure they are not bent or damaged, as the ladder could buckle or collapse;
• the feet – if they are missing, worn or damaged the ladder could slip. Also check the ladder feet when moving from soft/dirty ground (eg dug soil, loose sand/stone, a dirty workshop) to a smooth, solid surface (eg paving slabs), to make sure the actual feet and not the dirt (eg soil, chippings or embedded stones) are making contact with the ground;
• the rungs – if they are bent, worn, missing or loose, the ladder could fail;
• the locking mechanism – does the mechanism work properly? Are components or fixings bent, worn or damaged? If so, the ladder could collapse. Ensure any locking bars are fully engaged;
• the stepladder platform – if it is split or buckled, the ladder could become unstable or collapse;
• the steps or treads on stepladders – if they are contaminated, they could be slippery; if the fixings are loose on the steps, they could collapse.

If you spot any of the above defects, do not use the ladder and notify your employer.

Ladder Inspection Competent Person Course.