Work Health & Safety Management Plan

In addition to daily Pre-start meetings, a weekly Tool Box Talk will occur on site with workers to discuss safety. Appendix N will be used to record the meetings.

If any of the following work procedures are found to be inadequate for any reason, including changes in the work techniques or site conditions, the P6 Projects Person in Charge of the site must be contacted to ensure alternative Work Procedures are considered and developed.

In addition, the Site Rules as determined by the Principal Contractor are also to be followed by all workers on site.

5.2 Work Schedule

A combined P6 Projects / Subcontractor Work Schedule will be completed by the Person in Charge of the Site and be available on site. The form will help create a work environment that keeps all trades aware of each respective trades work and allows for safe planning and execution of tasks.

5.3 Environmental Considerations

P6 Projects will establish and review an environmental plan for the project. It is the priority of P6 Projects to ensure that all work is carried out so as to eliminate or minimise risks to the environment from project activities and make every reasonable effort to identify, evaluate and control environmental hazards and where practicable, ensure that all workers comply with relevant environmental legislation.

Environmental protection is the responsibility of everyone.

Workers are encouraged to report to P6 Projects any activity that may contravene sound environmental practices and steps will be taken to eliminate the hazard.

As general guidelines:

■ All waste materials must be disposed of in accordance with the relevant Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and/or with site rubbish/recycling procedures.

■ The toxicity, quantity and concentration of air emissions produced from tools, plant and equipment during project activities will be monitored.

■ The environmental impact of noise levels produced from project activities will be managed in accordance with the Code of Practice for Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing loss at Work.

■ Waste or silt should under no circumstances be washed down drains into storm water or natural water systems. All drains should be treated as if the form part of the storm water system unless otherwise signed and approved as a closed system for collecting waste water.

5.4 Work Environment and Facilities

■ The Principal Contractor will meet the Work Health & Safety Regulations 2011 requirements and have in place facilities for workers that comply, including a safe means of entry and exit from the workplace is safe.

■ Where reasonably practicable separate entries and exits will be provided for mobile plant and vehicles

■ Locations of exits will be clearly marked where required

The Principal Contractor will ensure good housekeeping practices are maintained by all workers on site.

P6 Projects will monitor and conduct training for workers in good housekeeping procedures and require their co-operation with these procedures to keep their work areas tidy.

Waste containers will be used appropriately.

5.4.1 Heat and Cold

P6 PROJECTS will ensure, so far as reasonably practicable that workers exposed to extreme heat or cold are able to carry out work without risk to their health and safety.

It is important to distinguish between a condition which threatens health and safety, and a feeling of discomfort. The risk to the health of workers increases as conditions move further away from those generally accepted as comfortable. Heat strain can arise from working in high air temperatures, exposure to high thermal radiation or high levels of humidity, such as those found in foundries, commercial kitchens and laundries. Hypothermia arises when a person gets an abnormally low body temperature as a result of exposure to cold environments. Both these conditions are potentially fatal.

Both personal and environmental factors should be considered when assessing the risk to workers’ health from working in a very hot or cold environment. Personal factors include the level of physical activity, the amount and type of clothing worn, and duration of exposure. Environmental factors include air temperature, the level of humidity, air movement and radiant heat.

Hot environments

If it is not possible to eliminate exposure to extreme heat, the risk of heat strain and heat exhaustion must be minimised so far as is reasonably practicable. For example:

■ use mechanical aids to assist in carrying out manual tasks

■ alter work schedules so that work is done at cooler times.

The following control measures should also be considered but are least effective if used on their own:

■ slow down the pace of work if possible

■ provide a supply of cool drinking water

■ provide a cool, well-ventilated area where workers can take rest breaks

■ provide opportunities for workers who are not used to working in hot conditions to acclimatise, for example, job rotation and regular rest breaks

■ ensure light clothing is worn to allow free movement of air and sweat evaporation.

Immediate assistance should be provided if any worker experiences any of the following symptoms of heat strain: dizziness, fatigue, headache, nausea, breathlessness, clammy skin or difficulty remaining alert.

The environmental conditions and physical well being of workers will be monitored when work involves prolonged or repeated exposure to heat or cold.

Training will be given to workers to allow them to recognise the early symptoms of heat strain or hypothermia, how to follow safe work procedures and to report problems immediately.

5.5 Outdoor Work

Outdoor workers may have access to shelter for eating meals and taking breaks, and to protect them in adverse weather conditions.

Protection against solar ultraviolet (UV) exposure may also be provided for outdoor workers, for example:

■ reorganising outdoor work if possible so that workers carry out alternative tasks, or work in shade, when the sun is most intense, that is, between 10.00

am and 2.00 pm (11.00 am and 3.00 pm when there is daylight saving), and

■ providing personal protective clothing (wide brim hat, long sleeved collared shirt, long pants, sunglasses) and sunscreen.

5.6 Personal Protective Equipment PPE

Workers must comply with all requirements for personal protective clothing and equipment of a general nature when on site. Personal protective equipment (PPE) must be worn and will be supplied to all workers. PPE will continue to be supplied where equipment may be damaged, become ineffective or where a more suitable item is available and practicable to be worn. All personnel must be instructed in the correct use and maintenance of basic items of PPE. As a general guide with regard to the most common PPE required on site, we provide the following:

Footwear:

Safety Boots in accordance with AS/NZS 2210 – Occupational Protective Footwear, are to be worn at all times while working on site.

Head Protection:

Safety Helmets in accordance with AS/NZS 1800 – Occupational Protective Helmets – Selection Care and Use, are to be worn at all times during the project where instructed by the PCBU or when there is any risk of falling objects injuring personnel on site.

Hearing Protection:

Hearing protection is to be worn by all employees who are using, or are in the vicinity of grinders and other portable electrical equipment, tools and machinery whilst in operation. In addition to this, if at any stage the general back ground noise on site becomes excessively high, hearing protection is to be worn. NOTE: As a general rule if an employee has to raise their voice to be heard by a person next to them, then the background noise is excessive.

Eye Protection:

Relatively minor incidents involving eyes can lead to permanent injuries. For this reason eye protection which complies with AS/NZS 1336 – Recommended Practices for Eye Protection in the Industrial Environment, is to be worn during activities on site which may result in flying particles or materials, splashes of substances or in dusty areas on site.

Respiratory Protection:

Respiratory protective devices in accordance with AS/NZS 1715 – Selection, Use and Maintenance of Respiratory Protective Devices, are to be worn at all times during the use of hazardous substances whose Material Safety Data Sheet specifies the wearing of a particular respiratory protective device and where exposure to any other airborne particles that have been identified as hazardous.

UV Exposure Protection:

Appropriate clothing, hats and sunscreen are to be used by all employees and sub-contractors on site to minimise exposure to UV radiation whilst working outdoors.

All workers will also wear items of PPE as specified in the risk assessments, work procedures and material safety data sheets included in this plan which may include gloves.

5.7 First Aid

P6 Projects shall provide and maintain first aid equipment and first aid amenities for use by a worker at the workplace (including company vehicles) where they are readily accessible and available for use. Their location shall be identified in Company Induction.

In determining first aid equipment to be provided under Work Health & Safety Regulation 2011, P6 Projects shall have regard to the location of, the number of workers at, and the type of work performed at, the workplace.

P6 Projects shall ensure that an adequate number of persons are trained in first aid treatment is present at a workplace at all times when work is being performed.

The level of training that a person referred to in Work Health & Safety Regulation 2011 shall have shall be determined by the equipment and amenities provided under Work Health & Safety Regulation 2011.

5.8 Asbestos

P6 Projects workers will hold the applicable licence and follow appropriate procedures and regulations when conducting works with or around Asbestos or materials suspected of containing Asbestos.

All work on asbestos-containing materials (ACM) must be carried out in accordance with the practices and procedures set out in the:

● Work Health & Safety Regulation 2011

● Work Health & Safety Act 2011

● Code of Practice How to Manage and Control Asbestos in the Workplace

● Code of Practice How to Safely remove Asbestos

The Code of Practice How to Safely Remove Asbestos contains specific instructions in section 4 for controls on how to safely remove all types of Asbestos:

● Identifying hazards

● Indicating the Asbestos removal area

● Wet and dry methods

● Tools and equipment

● PPE

● Decontamination

● Laundering of clothing

● Waste contaminants and disposal

P6 Projects will ensure that health monitoring will be provided to a worker if they are carrying out licensed Asbestos removal work, other ongoing Asbestos removal work or Asbestos related work and is at risk of exposure to Asbestos when carrying out work.

5.9 Managing Airborne Contaminates

Gases and vapours

Exposure to gases and vapours such as ammonia, chlorine, nitrogen, toluene and formaldehyde can result in various adverse health effects, such as respiratory irritation, asthma and watery eyes. Workers using chemicals that contain any of these or other products that according to the SDS for that product are hazardous, will have control measures in place to protect their health and safety before any work is conducted.

The SDS for the product being used will give the appropriate controls and PPE required using the product safely. Ensure that the SDS is current – issue date no older than 5 years.

Dust and fumes

Construction work creates dusty conditions exposing workers to various health effects. Chronic diseases (such as silicosis, lung or nasal cancer) which are linked to exposure to silica or fumes in the workplace. High airborne concentrations of wood dusts can also contribute to an explosion.

P6 Projects will reduce the risks from airborne contaminants by adopting the following controls where required:

■ using wet saws or vacuum methods, brushes to remove loose dust or sand rather than compressed air

■ enclosing major emission points

■ using suction extraction of dusts created where possible

■ providing respiratory protection appropriate to the contaminant

5.10 Hazardous Atmospheres

P6 Projects will have, where reasonably practicable prior to any work being conducted, in place methods and controls to manage the risks associated with Hazardous Atmospheres.

An atmosphere will be considered hazardous if:

■ the atmosphere does not have a safe oxygen level; or

■ the concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere increases the fire risk; or

■ the concentration of flammable gas, vapour, mist, or fumes exceeds 5% of the LEL for the gas, vapour, mist or fumes; or

■ a hazardous chemical in the form of a combustible dust is present in a quantity and form that would result in a hazardous area.

Ignition sources will be identified and isolated or removed where reasonably practicable.

5.11 Storage of Flammables

P6 PROJECTS will ensure that if flammable substances are stored or used in the workplace that they will be taken on site at the lowest practicable quantity required. The product SDS will be used to assess the flammability of a product and the recommended storage requirements for the product. The products will be stored in accordance with the recommendations of the product SDS.

No Go Area’s will be established where practicable around the works using flammable products to limit workers not directly involved in the use of the product exposure. Flammable substances include:

■ flammable and combustible liquids, including waste liquids, in containers, whether empty or full (fuel, paints, adhesives) and;

The emergency plan for fires and fire-fighting equipment on site will be provided and followed.

5.12 Falling Objects

P6 Projects will ensure that where reasonably practicable workers are not exposed to risks from falling objects. Depending on the task or nature of the works being conducted control measures that will be adopted may include but are not limited to:

■ No work is to be performed above other persons unless site specific engineered barricades, screens and controls have been established and are in place.

■ Any cutting, grinding and other activity where a risk of debris exists will be controlled by way of screen or moving to another area where other persons cannot be hit.

■ Edge protection will be in place where required.

■ Toe boards must be in place for scaffolding.

■ Work from ladders will not be performed above other workers.

■ All workers to wear head and eye protection where necessary.

■ No Go Area’s will be established, signed, monitored and maintained to prevent exposure to falling objects.

■ Equipment, tools and materials may be required to be tethered.

■ Safe methods of raising and lowering objects will be provided

5.13 Fall Prevention

P6 Projects will ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that workers and other persons are not exposed to the risk of a fall from one level to another. P6 PROJECTS will:

■ ensure that any work involving the risk of a fall is carried out on the ground or on a solid construction

■ provide safe means of access to and exit from the workplace, and

■ minimise the risk of falls so far as is reasonably practicable by providing a fall prevention device, work positioning system or a fall arrest system.

Measures to control the risk that exposes a worker or other person to a risk of a fall reasonably likely to cause injury to the worker or other person, will be in place. This includes circumstances in which the worker or other person is:

■ in or on plant or a structure that is at an elevated level

■ in or on plant that is being used to gain access to an elevated level

■ in the vicinity of an opening through which a person could fall

■ in the vicinity of an edge over which a person could fall

■ on or in the vicinity of a surface through which a person could fall, or

■ on or near the vicinity of a slippery, sloping or unstable surface.

To manage the risks associated with a fall P6 PROJECTS will refer to the Work Health & Safety Regulation 2011 and the Code of Practice How to Prevent Falls at Workplaces. P6 Projects will adopt the following approach to managing risk of a person falling from one level to another:

■ identifying hazards that may cause injury

■ if necessary, assessing the risks associated with these hazards

■ implementing risk control measures, and

■ reviewing risk control measures to ensure they are effective.

Workers and the WHSR where appointed will be consulted in the development of controls to manage the risk of a fall.

Identifying fall hazards

P6 Projects will identify all physical locations and tasks that could cause injury due to a fall in the areas where work is to be carried out. Tasks that need particular attention are those carried out:

■ on any structure or plant being constructed or installed, demolished or dismantled, inspected, tested, repaired or cleaned

■ on a potentially unstable surface (for example, areas where there is potential for ground collapse)

■ using equipment to work at the elevated level (for example, when using elevating work platforms or portable ladders)

■ on a sloping or slippery surface where it is difficult for people to maintain their balance (for example, on glazed tiles)

■ near an unprotected open edge (for example, near incomplete stairwells), and

■ near a hole, shaft or pit into which a worker could fall (for example, trenches, lift shafts or service pits)

Workplace Inspections

P6 Projects will conduct inspections around the workplace and consult workers to find out where work is carried out that could result in falls. Key things that will be observed include:

■ surfaces:

o the stability, fragility or brittleness

o the potential to slip, for example where surfaces are wet, polished or glazed

o the safe movement of workers where surfaces change

o the strength or capability to support loads, and

o the slope of work surfaces, for example, where they exceed 7 degrees.

■ levels—where levels change and workers may be exposed to a fall from one level to another

■ structures—the stability of temporary or permanent structures

■ the ground—the evenness and stability of ground for safe support of scaffolding or a work platform

■ the working area—whether it is crowded or cluttered • entry and exit from the working area

■ edges—protection for open edges of floors, working platforms, walkways, walls or roofs

■ holes, openings or excavations—which will require guarding, and

■ hand grip—places where hand grip may be lost.

In some situations, advice will be sourced from technical specialists, such as structural engineers, to check the stability of structures or load bearing capacity.

P6 Projects will review available information including incident records, inspection reports, feedback from WHSR and workers when determining the suitability and effectiveness of the controls used.

Information and advice about fall hazards and risks relevant to construction work activities will be sourced from regulators, industry associations, unions, technical specialists and safety consultants as required.

Work on the ground

Eliminating the need to work at height will be used as the most effective way of protecting workers from the risk of falls. Examples of eliminating the risk by working on the ground include:

■ prefabricating at ground level

■ prefabricating frames horizontally, then standing them up

■ using tools with extendable handles, such as paint rollers (the risk of musculoskeletal disorders will need to be considered when deciding whether to use such tools)

■ lowering works to conduct repairs or maintenance.

Work on a solid construction

Working on a solid construction provides an environment where the likelihood of a fall may be eliminated. ‘Solid construction’ means an area that:

■ is structurally capable of supporting workers, material and any other loads applied to it

■ is provided with barriers around its perimeter and around any openings from or through which a person could fall

■ has an even, accessible surface and gradient, and

■ has a safe means of entry and exit.

Different types of work involve different loads on the supporting surface. The surface and its supports must be able to safely carry the expected loads, including workers, materials, tools and equipment. When in doubt, P6 PROJECTS will have a structural engineer determine the safe load capacity before use.

Barriers

Barriers (or edge protection) to prevent a person falling over edges and into holes should be provided on relevant parts of a solid construction. These include:

■ the perimeters of buildings or other structures

■ mezzanine floors

■ openings in floors, and

■ the open edge of a stair, landing, platform or shaft opening.

The barrier should be designed and constructed to withstand the force of someone falling against it.

Edge protection should consist of guard rails, solid balustrades or other structural components, for example wire mesh supported by posts and provided with a reinforced top edge. The top of the guard rail or component should be between 900 mm and 1100 mm above the working surface. If a guard rail system is used, it should also have mid rails and toe boards or wire mesh infill panels.

If access is required to equipment (for example, a hoist) it should be protected with gates, safety chains or other means to prevent a person falling.

Protection of openings and holes

Holes, penetrations and openings through which a person could fall should be made safe immediately after being formed.

If a cover is used as a control measure, it must be made of a material that is strong enough to prevent persons or objects falling through and must be securely fixed to prevent any dislodgement or accidental removal.

Surface and gradient

Surfaces of solid construction should be non-slip and free from trip hazards and penetrations.

Surfaces of solid construction should generally not exceed 7 degrees (1 in 8 gradient). Cleated surfaces which provide greater slip-resistance should not be steeper than 20 degrees (1 in 3 gradient).

If grid mesh or checker plate flooring is used for walkways and working platforms, ensure that:

■ flooring panels are securely fixed and assembled in accordance with manufacturer’s specifications where possible, they are fitted to the structure,

prior to it being lifted into permanent position

■ each panel is fixed securely before the next panel is placed in position

■ during installation, this type of flooring is secured by tack welding, panel grips or other means to prevent movement before being fixed permanently, and

■ if panels of grid mesh or checker plate flooring are removed, edge protection is provided and the gaps left due to removed panels are protected.

Entry and exit

The solid construction must have a safe means for people to get to, from and move around the work area, for example permanently installed platforms, ramps, stairways and fixed ladders.

Further guidance is available in AS 1657 Fixed platforms, walkways, stairways and ladders – Design, construction and installation.

Safety considerations include:

■ exposure of access systems to the weather (for example, rain can make surfaces slippery and strong winds can cause loss of hand grip)

■ the provision of adequate natural or artificial lighting to all access ways, and

■ the clearance of obstructions so that persons are able to move easily to and from the workplace.

Portable ladders should only be used where the use of safer systems is not reasonably practicable.

Temporary work platforms

A ‘temporary work platform’ is a working platform, other than a permanently installed fixed platform, used to provide a working area for the duration of the job. The design of the platform prevents workers from falling. Temporary work platforms include scaffolds, elevating work platforms, or any other platform that provides a working area and is designed to prevent a fall.

Scaffolding

Scaffolding can be very effective protection in preventing falls; however, there are specific requirements that apply to some types of scaffold under the WHS Regulations. Scaffolding work platforms are generally rated as light, medium or heavy duty. Safety considerations include:

■ scaffolding conforms to AS/NZS 4576 Guidelines for scaffolding and the AS/NZS 1576 Scaffolding series

■ all scaffolding is erected, altered and dismantled by competent persons. Any scaffold from which a person or object could fall more than four metres must be

erected, altered and dismantled by or under the direct supervision of a licensed scaffolder.

■ prefabricated scaffolds are of the same type and not mixed components, unless the mixing of components has been approved by the manufacturer

■ safe access to and egress from the scaffold is provided, and

■ edge protection (hand rails, mid-rails and toe boards) is provided at every open edge of a work platform.

Information, instruction and training for workers using scaffolds

Where work is performed from a scaffold, P6 Projects will ensure that the relevant workers understand:

■ what loads the scaffold can safely take

■ not to make any unauthorised alterations to the scaffold (such as removing guard rails, planks, ties, toe boards and braces)

■ that working platforms need to be kept clear of debris and obstructions along their length, and

■ that incomplete or defective scaffolds must never be accessed.

Where work is performed using mobile scaffolds, workers should understand that the scaffold:

■ should remain level and plumb at all times

■ be kept well clear of power lines, open floor edges and penetrations

■ should not be accessed until the castors are locked to prevent movement

■ should never be moved while anyone is on it, and

■ should only be accessed using internal ladders.

Elevating work platforms

Elevating Work Platforms (EWPs) include scissor lifts, cherry pickers, boom lifts and travel towers. There are battery powered and internal combustion engine types. Some are designed for hard flat surfaces only, while others are designed to be operated on rough terrain.

Safety considerations include:

■ workers operating the platform are trained and instructed in safe operating procedures for the particular brand and type of equipment, as well as the safe

use of fall arrest equipment and emergency rescue procedures

■ the platforms are only used as working platforms and not as a means of entering and exiting a work area unless the conditions set out in AS 2550.10 are met

■ unless designed for rough terrain, the platforms are used only on a solid level surface

■ the surface area is checked to make sure that there are no penetrations or obstructions which could cause uncontrolled movement or overturning of the platform

■ the manufacturer’s or supplier’s instructions are consulted for information on safe operation

■ persons working in travel towers, boom lifts or cherry pickers wear a properly anchored safety harness, and

■ workers are licensed when operating boom-type elevating work platforms with a boom length of 11 metres or more.

Platforms supported by trestle ladders

Trestle ladder scaffolds are only suitable for use at heights greater than two metres when guard rails and toe boards are incorporated to prevent people and material falling off the working platform. The system (including planks) should be assembled according to the manufacturer’s specifications with the complete set of compatible components.

Some trestle ladder scaffolds include outriggers to increase stability. Trestle ladder scaffolds are only suited to light duty tasks such as painting and rendering. Work should only be performed between the trestles. The minimum width of the working platform should not be less than 450 mm.

Alternatives to trestle ladders will be considered, such as small scissor lifts, light duty aluminium mobile scaffolds, boom arms and modular scaffolding.

Perimeter guard rails

Guard rails may be used to provide effective fall prevention:

■ at the edges of roofs

■ at the edges of mezzanine floors, walkways, stairways, ramps and landings

■ on top of plant and structures where access is required

■ around openings in floor and roof structures, and

■ at the edges of shafts, pits and other excavations.

Guard rails should incorporate a top rail 900mm to 1100 mm above the working surface and a mid-rail and a toe board.

Before using a guard rail system, you should check that it will be adequate for the potential loads. The required load resistance will depend on the momentum of a falling person. For example, the momentum of a person falling from a pitched roof will increase as the pitch (or angle) of the roof increases.

Refer to AS/NZS 4994—Temporary Edge Protection series for further guidance.

Safety mesh

Safety mesh is designed to prevent internal falls through a roof. If securely fixed, safety mesh provides fall protection for roof installers and offers long-term protection against falling for maintenance and repair workers.

Safety mesh does not prevent falls from the edge of a roof or through holes in a roof, so it should always be used in conjunction with appropriate edge protection, guardrails or individual fall-arrest systems.

Safety mesh should comply with AS/NZS 4389 Safety mesh which specifies the minimum requirements for the design, construction, testing and installation of safety mesh for use in domestic, commercial and industrial building applications.

The mesh should be formed from 2 mm diameter wire of not less than 450 MPa tensile strength, welded into a mesh with the longitudinal wires not more than 150 mm apart and the cross wires not more than 300 mm apart.

Safety mesh should be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions by competent persons, who should be protected against the risk of falling by using appropriate control measures such as scaffolding, elevating work platforms or individual fall arrest systems.

Particular care is required to ensure that the mesh is securely connected to the structure and the overlap between adjacent sections of mesh is sufficient to generate the necessary strength to resist the force of a person falling onto it. The safety mesh should be covered by the roof cladding as soon as reasonably practicable after it has been installed.

Individual fall arrest systems

Individual fall arrest systems consist of some or all of the following components:

■ anchorages

■ lifelines

■ inertia reel

■ lanyard of fixed length that will not allow a person to fall more than two metres

■ retractable lifelines

■ rope grabs

■ wire grabs

■ rail system

■ shock absorbers—both personal and industrial

■ harness

■ snap hooks (double or triple action to prevent rollout)

■ karabiners (double or triple action to prevent rollout), and

■ rescue equipment.

Individual fall arrest systems rely on workers wearing and using them correctly, and therefore workers who will use such a system must be trained in its safe use. They should only be used where it is not reasonably practicable to use higher level control measures.

Relevant Australian/New Zealand Standards for personal fall-arrest equipment require that they be permanently marked or labelled to indicate their purpose, correct use, limitations and other relevant information aimed at reducing the incidence of misuse or ill-fitting of the equipment.

Portable ladders

Extension or single ladders should generally only be used as a means of access to or egress from a work area. They should only be used as a working platform for light work of short duration which can be carried out safely on the ladder.

Selecting ladders

If ladders are used they must be selected to suit the task to be undertaken. In doing this, you should consider the duration of the task, the physical surroundings of where the task is to be undertaken and the prevailing weather conditions.

Ladders should have a load rating of at least 120 kg and be manufactured for Industrial use/Industrial rated.

Positioning ladders

Any ladder used at a workplace must be set up on a solid and stable surface, and set up so as to prevent the ladder from slipping. Single and extension ladders can be prevented from slipping by:

■ placing ladders at a slope of 4:1, and setting up stepladders in the fully opened position, and

■ securing ladders at the top or bottom, or if necessary, at both ends (see figure below).

Access or egress

Where fixed or extension ladders are used for access or egress, check that:

■ there is a firm and level work platform, free from obstructions, to step onto from the ladder

■ the ladder extends at least one metre above the stepping-off point on the working platform, and

■ edge protection is provided at the stepping off point where people access the working platform.

Example of acceptable ladder use Safe Use of Ladders

When a ladder is used, check that:

■ the ladder is in good condition—the ladder should be inspected for faults, such as broken rungs, stiles and footing before it is used

■ damaged ladders are removed from service

■ the ladder is on firm, stable and level ground

■ the ladder is the correct height for the task to avoid reaching or stretching

■ the ladder is not too close or too far from the support structure—the distance between the ladder base and the supporting structure should be about one

metre for every four metres of working ladder height (4:1 ratio)

■ the ladder is secured against displacement (i.e. slipping or sliding) and/or there is another person holding the base of the ladder

■ the ladder is not placed so that the weight of the ladder and any person using the ladder is supported by the rungs

■ all the locking devices on the ladder are secure

■ materials or tools are not carried while climbing the ladder—use a tool belt or side pouch

■ only light duty work is undertaken while on the ladder, where three points of contact can be maintained and tools can be operated safely with one hand

■ slip resistant base, rungs or steps are provided

■ slip resistant shoes are worn, and

■ ladders are not used without additional appropriate precautions:

o in access areas or next to doors

o on scaffolding or an elevating work platform to get extra height

o next to power lines unless the worker is trained and authorised and the appropriate ladder is being used

o in very wet or windy conditions, or

o next to traffic areas unless the working area is barricaded.

When using ladders, it is not safe to:

■ handle or use ladders where it is possible for the worker or the ladder to make contact with power lines, except where the person is qualified to do so

■ use metal or metal reinforced ladders when working on live electrical installations

■ set up the ladder in places, such as driveways and doorways, where a person or vehicle could hit it—if necessary, erect a barrier or lock the door shut

■ use a stepladder near the edge of an open floor, penetration, beside any railing or on scaffolding to gain extra height

■ over-reach (the centre of the torso should be within the ladder stiles throughout the work)

■ use any power or hand tool requiring two hands to operate, such as concrete cutting saws and circular saws

■ use tools which require a high degree of leverage type force which, if released, may cause the user to over balance or fall from the ladder, such as pinch bars

■ carry out work such as arc welding or oxy cutting

■ carry large, heavy or bulky items in their hands up or down the ladder

■ work over other people, or

■ allow anyone else to be on the ladder at the same time.

Except where additional and appropriate fall protection equipment is used in conjunction with the ladder, it is not safe to:

■ face away from the ladder when going up or down, or when working from it

■ stand on a rung closer than 900 mm to the top of a single or extension ladder, or

■ stand higher than the second tread below the top plate of any stepladder (with the exception of three-rung step ladders).

Ladder maintenance

Ladders should be regularly inspected by a competent person in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. Ladders with any of the following faults must be replaced or repaired:

■ fibreglass stiles cracked, chipped or severely faded with fibres exposed

■ timber stiles warped, splintered, cracked or bruised

■ metal stiles twisted, bent, kinked, crushed or with cracked welds or damaged feet

■ rungs, steps, treads or top plates which are missing, worn, damaged or loose

■ tie rods missing, broken or loose

■ ropes, braces, or brackets which are missing, broken or worn, and

■ timber members which are covered with opaque paint or other treatment that could disguise faults in the timber

■ missing, loose, bent or worn fasteners, i.e. rivets, bolts and pins

■ worn or damaged feet, including non-slip material.