Ladder Safety Rules

and
Regulations in Australia

Introduction :

Although
the
standards
and
regulations for ladder safety vary
between the states and territory in
Australia,
there
are
certain
requirements which apply to all
places. For instance, pertinent
obligations are generally owed by
different individuals as well as
corporate entities, such as company
officers, employers, workers and
managers. The primary concern of
safety authorities are risks of fallrelated accidents.
Adequate ladder safety equipment
and training should be given to
employees for minimising such
mishaps. There are various Codes of
Practice or Guidelines which dictate
recommendation of ladder safety
requirements in order to meet
judicial obligations under the
relevant legislation. In other words,
it is important for single as well as
extension ladders to be fastened
securely when they are being used at
workplaces.

: Ladder Safety Requirements in Different States :

Queensland :
From January 2012, a national model
legislation in relation to workplace health and
safety was implemented in Queensland. It
enacted the:
Work Health & Safety Act (2011) Qld
Work Health & Safety Regulations
(2011) Qld
The framework places obligations and duties
on a broad purview encompassing both corporations and individuals for
ensuring safe work practices, especially while working with ladders. The
government has also issued Codes of Practice for providing pragmatic
guidance to the duty holders so that they can discharge their obligations as
per particular safety practices.

Victoria :
Safe usage of ladders are dictated by the
following in Victoria:
Occupational Health and Safety Act
2004
Occupational
Health
and
Safety
Regulations 2007
The legislation has laid down obligations which all people (corporations
and private individuals) must follow for ensuring safe work practices. In
addition to that, Compliance Codes have also been developed for offering
guidance about implementation of specific safety practices.

New South Wales :

From January 2012, the government of NSW
enacted the following to ensure workplace health
and safety:
Work Health & Safety Act (2011) NSW
Work Health & Safety Regulations (2011)
NSW
The legislative scheme places duties associated
with safe work practices that corporations and
individuals are bound to follow. Besides that, there are also Codes of
Practice that duty holders are expected to refer for discharging their
obligations.

Western Australia :
In Western Australia, ladder safety is
regulated by:
Occupational Safety and Health Act
1984 (WA)
Occupational Safety and Health
Regulations 1996 (WA)
These supervisory ethics have established
rules that corporations and individuals are
expected to observe for ensuring safety at workplaces. Compliance Codes
are also in place for guiding duty holders to discharge their obligations in
relation to the safety practices.

South Australia :
For ensuring ladder safety at workplaces in South
Australia, the government has enacted:
Work Health & Safety Act (2012) SA
Work Health & Safety Regulations (2012) SA
They define the rules which every corporation and
individual must observe for minimising the risk of
accidents. The Codes of Practice work in combination with them for educating
duty holders about how they are expected to discharge their obligations and
maintain work safety.

Tasmania:
Ladder safety in Tasmania is dictated by two
primary legislative measures:
Work Health & Safety Act (2012) Tas
Work Health & Safety Regulations (2012) Tas
They make it mandatory for people to utilise safe
work practices by observing certain duties. Duty
holders must also follow the Codes of Practice in order to discharge their
obligations.

Northern Territory :
Just like all the states of Australia, the Northern Territory has
its own implementations for regulating ladder safety:
Work Health & Safety (National Uniform Legislation)
Act 2011 (NT)
Work Health & Safety (National Uniform Legislation)
Regulations 2011 (NT)
These legislative measures state various duties associated with safe work
practices that everyone must follow. In case duty holders face any problem
while discharging their obligations, they are supposed to refer to the Codes of
Practice.

In every part of Australia, it is the duty of business owners, company

officers and non-profit organisations to ensure the health and safety of their
workers. They should provide ladders and other equipment which are fit for
the purpose and appropriate for duration of the task. Besides that, the
workers must comply with the security procedures and take care of
themselves properly. When ladders are being used in workplaces for
working at heights, they must be secured either at or close to their top and
bottom for preventing sideways movement or slipping. Failure in the
discharge of these duties can be subjected to legal liability.

Various Codes of Practice and publications all throughout Australia also make it
absolutely compulsory for any ladder to be positioned on a stable, uniform and
solid surface at a slope having 4:1 ratio. For minimising the risks of slippage
and falls, it should also be secured with an appropriate ladder safety device. The
place must be kept clear of exposed electrical wiring and power lines. Workers
should also wear slip-resistant and well fitting footwear before climbing. Heavy
penalties are generally imposed on those who fail to comply with the
regulations.

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