Australian Capital Territory Current Regulations Australian Capital Territory Current RegulationsDefinitions
(1) In this section:
"ladder"—see section 142.
"stepladder"—see section 142.
Design and construction
(2) Every ladder and every stepladder used for any purpose covered by this regulation shall be designed and constructed as prescribed by this regulation.
To be provided and maintained
(3) Any person who directly or by his or her agents or servants carries out any building work shall provide and maintain in place during working hours the ladders that are necessary to provide safe means of access to all floor levels and to all places where any person has to work until the time that temporary or permanent stairways are completed and are available as such safe means of access.
Placing of ladders
(4) Ladders shall be placed so that—
(a) each side rail or stile has a level and firm footing and the top rest for each side rail or stile is level, reasonably rigid and of adequate strength to support the maximum applied load; and
(b) the side rails or stiles are not supported by boxes, loose bricks, or other loose packing.
In front of doors
(5) A ladder shall not be placed in front of a door, opening towards the ladder, unless the door is fastened open or is locked or guarded.
To be securely fixed
(6) Every ladder shall so far as practicable be securely fixed so that it cannot move either from its top or from its bottom points of rest.
(7) If it cannot be so securely fixed it shall where practicable be securely fixed at the base or if such fixing at the base is impracticable a person shall be stationed at the base of the ladder to prevent slipping.
In public thoroughfares
(8) Effective means shall be provided to prevent the displacement of a ladder set up in a public thoroughfare or in any other place where accidental collision with the ladder may occur.
Placed against window frames
(9) A ladder so placed that its top end rests against a window frame shall be fitted with a board fixed to its top end the board being of such dimensions that the applied load is safely distributed over the window frame.
Footings for stepladders
(10) A stepladder shall be set up on a level and firm footing and shall not be stood on loose bricks or other loose packing.
Ladders not to support scaffolding planks
(11) No ladder except a trestle ladder shall be used to support a plank on which a person has to work.
Height above landings
(12) Ladders used for the purposes mentioned in subsection (3) shall rise to a height of at least 3 feet 6 inches above the place of landing for persons using the ladders.
Height when used as a working place
(13) A ladder used as a place from which a person has to work shall rise to a height of at least 3 feet 6 inches above the highest rung to be reached by the feet of the person working on the ladder or if that is impracticable then to the greatest practicable height.
Landing places
(14) A landing place at least 27 inches in width and 48 inches in length shall be provided at the head and base of every ladder for the purposes mentioned in subsection (3) and if any person is liable to fall for a distance of more than 6 feet from it then the landing place shall be fenced in the way mentioned in section 75.
(15) If a ladder passes through an opening in the floor of a landing place, the opening shall be as small as is reasonably practicable.
(16) Every ladder or run of ladders rising a vertical distance of 20 feet or over shall be provided with an intermediate landing place or places so that the vertical distance between any 2 successive landing places shall not exceed 20 feet.
Angle of ladders
(17) Every ladder shall, if possible, be used at such an angle that the horizontal distance from the top support to the foot of the ladder is equal to 1 / 4 of the length of the ladder.
Crowding on ladders
(18) Persons shall not crowd together on ladders.
Separate ladders for ascent and descen t
(19) If, in connection with any building work, traffic conditions on ladders are such as to warrant the use of separate ladders for the purposes of ascent and descent, then such separate ladders shall be provided, designated, and used for such purposes.
Ladders to be faced
(20) Persons using ladders shall face them while in the act of ascending or descending.
Ladders not to be joined
(21) Ladders shall not be joined together to form a longer ladder unless a longer ladder so formed is of the strength and rigidity prescribed for ladders by this regulation.
Single rail ladders prohibited
(22) Ladders made by fastening cleats across a single rail shall not be used.
Defective ladders and stepladders
(23) No ladder or stepladder shall be used that has—
(a) a missing or a weakened, broken or otherwise defective rung or tread or a broken or defective stile; or
(b) any rung or tread that depends for its support solely on nails, spikes, or other similar fixing.
Prohibited uses of ladders
(24) A ladder shall not be used as a guy, brace, tom, strut, beam or skid or for any other than its intended purpose.
Cleaning and maintenance of roof monitors, gutters, windows, louvres and ventilators