• more than 50% of falls are from less than 3m

• approximately 70% of falls are from ladders and roofs

The cost of falls from height in construction has been estimated at $24 million a year. The financial and human cost is simply too high.

Read this document to discover how you can keep safe working on your roof.

Here are a few things to think about before you use a ladder.

Is the ladder the best way of doing the job?

• Ask yourself if the ladder is the best and safest way to do a job. Ladders aren’t designed to be stood on for long periods so you may also need a work platform.
• For big jobs such as painting a house, think about whether using scaffolding or hiring a painter would be safer.
• There are different types of ladders for different jobs. If you’re not sure yours is the right one, ask at your local hardware store.

Check the ladder first

Keep your ladder in good condition. Check it once a year (such as when daylight saving starts) to make sure there are no broken or missing parts parts or corrosion. If there are, fix it or buy a new one. Using a faulty ladder isn’t worth the risk.

Make sure your ladder meets the New Zealand Safety Standard AS/NZ 1982.1.1996(external link).

Set up the ladder correctly

To set up your ladder safely and correctly, it must be:

• on a firm, even surface
• secured at the base with sandbags or blocking strip, or someone must hold it
• tied to something stable as close as possible to the top point of contact if it’s a straight ladder
• positioned one metre out at the base for every four metres of height and must extend one metre above the top point of contact (for straight ladders)
• must be fully opened with both stay bars locked in place (for stepladders)
• not up in front of a door or, if it is, check the door is locked.
• Keep clear of power lines.

Use the ladder safely

Remember these simple safety tips when using ladders:

• Always keep three points of contact at all times – two hands and one foot or two feet and one hand.
• Don’t carry anything in your hands when going up or down – use a tool belt or a handline.
• Don’t over-reach sideways – if you can’t reach what you’re working on, climb down and move the ladder along. keep your belt buckle between the ladder uprights
• Keep the steps and rungs clear. If you’re painting, use a hook on the side of the ladder to hang your paint tin. Don’t hang tools or other items from the steps or rungs.
• Never climb higher than the third rung from the top of a straight ladder, or the second step from the top of a stepladder.
• Ask someone to hold the ladder steady or let someone else know you’re working on a ladder before you climb it.
• And when you’ve finished using your ladder, put it away so children can’t climb on it and no-one can bump into it.

Unfortunately it’s easy to injure yourself when using a ladder, but it’s just as easy to prevent injuries. And if you don’t feel confident about getting up a ladder or stepladder – don’t! Call a professional or ask someone else to give you a hand.

For more information, see ACC4407 Ladder safety: step up to the challenge (PDF 165K).

When planning and executing the project required for you property we keep you updated, right through to completing your project. – There are no hidden surprises, we make maintaining your property so easy.

Swift property maintenance are no cowboys and strictly adhere to all safety regulations in regards to all of our work, from working at height and foot traffic diversion to  water run off management.

Apart from many other skills Swift possess we are expert in the field of abseiling and height access. With gifted technicians that can get any were we need, do anything that needs to be done safely.