How to choose ladders and safety standards for ladders

How to choose ladders and safety standards for ladders

In Hong Kong, generally speaking, working at height refers to working in a place higher than 2 meters. However, working with ladders below 2 meters may also have the chance of falling and being injured, and the consequences can be very serious. The following introduces some factors that should be paid attention to when choosing suitable ladders.

 

risk analysis

The risk control level should be considered in the selection process:

First consider whether you can avoid working at heights

If you cannot avoid working at a height, you must consider how to prevent falling from a height and finally consider how to reduce the severity of falling from a height

When it is unavoidable to work at heights, one has to consider whether a vertical ladder or a planting ladder is a suitable tool for ascending and descending, or whether there are other more suitable options. We can draw conclusions by conducting risk assessment and considering the level of risk control.

 

Is it suitable for work to use ladders?

When considering whether the job is suitable for use of ladders, the following should be noted:

Stay in a location for no more than 30 minutes

Whether the work is light and handy, such as heavy or laborious processes, it is not suitable to use ladders

Straight ladder or stepladder should have handrails

In the working position, the hands and feet can keep three-point contact with the ladder

The weight of the workers and the objects they carry cannot exceed the maximum safe weight of the ladder

During work, the vertical centerline of the body should be kept between the ladders and the feet should be on the same rail

Avoid working on both sides of the ladder, such as diamond shit or brick walls on both sides of the stepladder. At this time, you can reposition the stepladder to a position facing the work. If you cannot avoid working on both sides of the stepladder, consider whether there are other more suitable loading and unloading equipment that can be used

 

You can climb the ladder with both hands. If you want to carry something, you should carry it in your pocket

You must ensure that you have it during work-you can hold the ladder tightly with your hands

When using a stepladder, if you cannot hold the ladder with your hands, such as when placing cartons on a shelf, you must consider the following factors to determine whether it is still suitable to use the stepladder to work:

Working height

There are still handrails on the stepladder

Whether the work is light

No need to work on both sides of the stepladder

No need to stretch the body excessively for work

Users can stand on the ladder with both feet

Can the ladder be fixed or fastened?

Safety standards for ladders

Hong Kong's laws do not have specific safety standards for ladders. The following introduces some foreign ladder safety standards for reference.

The British Standard (BS 2037) divides ladders into three categories:

The first category of industrial use

1. Work safety burden: 175 kg

The second type of industry use

-150 kg for work safety

 

The third type of household use

A work safety burden of 125 kg

British ladder safety standards:

BS 2037

—Applicable to the first and third categories of movable metal ladder workers,

BS EN131

One is suitable for movable metal ladders and wooden ladders, replacing BS 2037 (Group 2: Industry Standard

BS 1129

—Suitable for movable wooden ladders

EATS13/1

—Suitable for movable fiber ladder

American ladders are safety standards:

ANSI A14.1—Applicable to wooden ladders

ANSIA 14.2-suitable for movable metal ladders

ANSIA14.5—Applicable to movable fiber ladders

Australia/New Zealand Ladder Safety Standard

AS/NZS 1892.1-1996

——Suitable for movable metal ladders

AS 1892.2-1992

One suitable for movable wooden ladders

AS/NZS 1892.3-1996

—Suitable for movable fiber ladder

AS/NZS 1892.5-1999

—Selection of movable ladders, safe use and maintenance

 

Canadian ladder safety standards:

CSAZ11 M81—Suitable for movable metal ladders

-Generally, ladders that meet safety standards should have:

The manufacturer provides the safe working weight of the ladder;

Safety standards such as BS EN131;

Guidelines for the safe use of ladders; and

Warning words ∈ (if necessary) such as "Danger! Do not stand on this step or above. Otherwise, you may lose your balance."

 

Choose a safe ladder

Before choosing and buying new ladders, you should first consider the harsh ground conditions that you usually encounter during work, such as slippery ground. The ladder manufacturer should specify what kind of ground conditions the ladder can handle. The British Health and Safety Executive recommends the use of first-class industrial ladders or ladders that comply with the BSEN 131 standard for work, and the size of the ladder must match the work.