Here’s the top 10 not so clever things people have done when using a Step Ladder or Ladder:

10. Dragging a step ladder from one place to another, sideways.

This loosens the joints. Over a short time the ladder will lose its rigidity and therefore stability. To move a ladder, pick it up first. You may also find it easier to transport if you fold it up first.

9. Using a rusted ladder… “just this once”.

How many times have you taken a chance… “just this once”? Rusted ladders may still ‘look’ safe, but you can never be sure just how little pressure could cause a rung to collapse, a leg to crumble, or a joint to snap.

No job is worth the risk “just this once”. Get a new ladder and store it out of the weather where it is less likely to accumulate rust. Always do a Ladder Safety Check before using a ladder.

8. Using a step ladder that’s way too short for the job, or having the ladder too far away from the work to be done.

Either of these scenarios encourages over-reaching… which has led to many ladder accidents.

7. Standing on the top step.

This is a classic no-no when using a ladder. As soon as the slightest imbalance occurs there’s nothing for the person to hang on to, or lean their knees against.

Standing on the top rung of a step ladder is an accident just waiting to happen.

6. Failing to lock the step ladder.

This can cause instability of the ladder, or a sudden jolt as the step ladder locks into place due to the person’s weight. This jolt has caused people to fall from the ladder, or down a few rungs, scraping shins and forearms.

5. Setting the feet on a wet or slippery floor, or letting one set of legs be stuck in sand.

As soon as someone walks up the step ladder it’s likely that the feet will slide or sink. Either way the person becomes unbalanced again.

4. Using a single step ladder or a pair of step ladders to support planks to make a platform to stand on.

If there is a lot of weight on the planks they will bend excessively. This movement can push the step ladders apart to the extent that the whole thing crashes down. If at a height, things could be disastrous! The other probability is the plank of wood snapping from the excessive bend.

3. Standing the step ladder feet on blocks of wood or stacks of bricks.

Blocks and stacks should NEVER be considered to be stable however neatly they are stacked or embedded.

2. Hanging something very heavy on one side of the ladder.

Hanging something heavy on one side of the ladder could flip the ladder quite easily, particularly just as you’ve climbed off it. It would be terrible to have a ladder and a piece of machinery, tools or heavy paint tins come crashing down on you.

1. Walking the step ladder along while still being on it!

It’s been done in many a comedy movie… but always under controlled conditions and often by specialised stunt personnel. If you need to move the step ladder, simply climb down it and move it. It takes a lot less effort than rocking it from side to side to walk it to another destination… in such a case – the very hard floor! Until your job description includes ‘stunt action’, stick with using ladders the safe way!

You would think that step ladders in Australia would need to meet the requirements of a rigorous specification and test programme, but not so. Adoption of a standard by manufacturers is voluntary, so it’s probably understandable that they opt out a process that most consumers would think is essential.

Now that doesn’t stop a consumer from seeking out a manufacturer that DOES think the standard important enough to be met – and labelling to show that it meets the requirements of a standard is easy to spot.

The Standard that step ladders need to meet is typically titled “AS/NZS 1892.1:1996 Australian/New Zealand Standard – Portable Ladders – Part 1: Metal”.

The reference “typically” stems from the fact that step ladders can also be constructed in timber (Part 2: Timber) and in Reinforced Plastic (Part 3: Reinforced Plastic). The standards are very similar in that there is a specification part which defines how each type of ladder should be, and then a performance testing part almost identical for each, which is to be expected since how a step ladder “needs to perform” with someone on it is not really anything to do with the materials or method of construction.

So what tests are carried out?

Some of the tests are very basic, such as Labelling Requirements, but nevertheless someone independent needs to verify that the label can be readily seen, and says what it needs to say!

Other tests, called performance tests, subject the step ladder to various actions that copy the way people use (or abuse) step ladders:

The Walking Test simulates someone shifting their weight from side to side, sometimes to the extent that the front legs leave the floor in turn and the ladder moves forward in a walking motion beyond an allowable limit, which happens if the legs are not stiff enough and/or the overall structural stability is not adequate.

The treads of the step ladder can be tested for strength where they are joined to the sides of the step ladder, with a vertical load applied in excess of what is considered normal, up to a factor of three times.

The sides of the step ladder, called “stiles” in step ladder jargon, can also be tested for bending, since if they are too flimsy they can deform as a person walks up the ladder.

Only if the step ladder passes ALL the requirements of the standard, can it be said to have conformed to the performance test requirements and have satisfied the Standard.

Remember to face your Step Ladder at right angles to the work, so if painting a wall for example you would be facing the wall, not working to the side.

The most important rule of using a Step Ladder is: NEVER stand on the top tread, however tempting that may be in order to perhaps finish off a job. Step Ladders are labelled with warnings to this effect, and they are there for a reason!

When moving a Step Ladder along to a new working place, pick it up rather than dragging or pushing it along, as this will weaken the joints and make it less stable over time.

When work is finished, clean and store your Step Ladder in a secure place to avoid damage.

You should be using a Step Ladder appropriate for the nature of the work to be done. Step Ladders come in timber, metal (usually aluminium) and fibreglass, so choose a fibreglass one if electrical work is to be done. In addition, choose one with a rating suitable for the work, and more importantly, the weight of the person going to use it. A ‘domestic’ ladder is rated at 100kg, but for a person close to that weight, the use of an ‘industrial duty’ Step Ladder with a rating of 120 or even 150kg is preferable.

Ideally, choose a Step Ladder that is within 0.6 metres in height from the highest point to be reached, and within an arms length horizontally. From then on it’s possible to work in a truly stable condition.

Have a good look at the ladder to see if the treads are OK and that the spreaders lock the ladder into place effectively, and check if it’s twisted or bent in any way.

It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for reviews on different brands of Step Ladders, want the run-down on Step Ladder Safety, or you simply want to get information for upgrading your current ladder… you’re at the right place.

You’ll discover the how to’s of finding the right Step Ladder for your needs, handy tips for storing and maintaining this valuable commercial and domestic tool, as well as OHS and Workplace Safety guidelines for Step Ladders.

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