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Ladder RAMS Builder
Ladder risk assessment and method statement
Prepare RAMS for short-duration work from a ladder or stepladder where the task justifies it. State the ladder, the task and where it stands, edit the suggested controls and review the PDF draft.
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Prepare the Ladder RAMS
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Which areas are included?
More details
For example, reception, the first floor or the rear garden.
What a Ladder RAMS covers
Ladder work here means a named leaning ladder or stepladder used for low-risk, short-duration access where a platform is not reasonable.
Suggested steps and hazards for Ladder
What it offers for ladder/steps before you have answered anything.
Stop things falling on people below
- Fence off the ground below the work so nobody walks under the tools and materials.
- Use toe boards, brick guards or netting on platforms and lanyard tools where you can.
Hazard
Tools and materials falling onto people below
Who might be harmed and how
People below, including the public
Controls in place
- Lower waste in bags or a chute, never throw it.
- Keep the exclusion zone up until the last item is down.
Falling objects are a leading cause of harm to the public near construction.
HSE: Protecting the public Check the ladder before use
- Check the feet, rungs, steps, locks, labels and visible condition before climbing.
- Remove damaged equipment from use.
Hazard
A defect or unlocked section makes the ladder fail or move.
Who might be harmed and how
The ladder user
Controls in place
- Use a ladder suited to the job and the user.
A pre-use check catches defects before someone climbs.
Safe use of ladders and stepladders Set the ladder securely
- Put it on firm, level support with a strong upper resting point.
- For a leaning ladder, use the 1-in-4 angle and secure it against slipping.
- Open stepladders fully and lock them before climbing.
Hazard
A slipping base, wrong angle or unlocked ladder causes a fall.
Who might be harmed and how
The ladder user and people below
Controls in place
- Never stand a ladder on boxes, pallets or loose packing.
- Keep doors and routes controlled.
A stable base, upper support and locked sections stop the ladder moving.
Safe use of ladders and stepladders: types Climb facing the ladder
- Face the rungs while climbing and keep three points of contact.
- Use a tool belt or pass tools up separately.
Hazard
A lost handhold or turned body causes a fall.
Who might be harmed and how
The ladder user
Controls in place
- Keep both hands available for climbing when moving between levels.
Facing the ladder and keeping contact protects the user while climbing.
Safe use of ladders and stepladders: types
What the builder asks about Ladder
Your answers decide which steps, hazards and controls it suggests.
How it’s done
- How high is the work, and what is the ground like?
- Which ladder or steps will you use?
- What will you do with the ladder?
What your Ladder RAMS includes
Method statement
The sequence of the work, step by step. The suggestions are a starting point; you write the method for the job as it will be done.
Risk assessment
Each hazard, who could be harmed, the controls in place and any further action. There is no risk score: you judge each row against the real site, and adding a hazard does not put its controls in place.
PDF draft for review
The document as you left it, for someone competent to check. A download is not approval and not permission to start work.