Queensland Consolidated Regulations

WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY REGULATION 2011 - REG 306L

306L Work on a ladder

(1) This section applies if a person conducting a business or undertaking intends to perform construction work that involves a ladder.

(2) Subsection (3) applies if the construction work is permitted work, and, in doing the work, a person could fall—

(a) for housing construction work—at least 3m; or

(b) otherwise—at least 2m.

(3) The person conducting the business or undertaking must not use, or allow another person to use, the ladder, if it is a single or extension ladder, unless—

(a) the person using the ladder—

(i) has at least 3 limbs holding, wrapped around or standing on the ladder in any combination; or

Example—

holding the ladder with 1 hand while standing on it with 2 feet

(ii) is prevented from falling by a control measure, for example, a strap commonly known as a pole strap; or

(iii) is using a fall arrest harness system that is not attached to the ladder; and

(b) the ladder is secured—

(i) at or near the top to prevent it moving; or

Examples—

• tying the top of the ladder to a plate fixed to the top of a wall frame

• clamping the top of the ladder to structural steel

(ii) at or near the bottom to prevent it moving.

Examples—

• tying the bottom of the ladder to pegs in the ground

• a person, other than the person using the ladder, holding the ladder in position near the bottom of the ladder

Penalty—

Maximum penalty—60 penalty units.

(4) Despite subsection (3) (a) (i) , the person using the ladder may hold a stable object with 1 or both hands instead of holding the ladder with 1 or both hands.

Examples of stable objects—

• guttering

• a fascia board or timber stud

• a plate fixed to the top of a wall frame

(5) The person conducting the business or undertaking must ensure that the ladder, if it is a single or extension ladder, and is used against a pole to do construction work, has a device that—

(a) is fitted at or near the top of the ladder between its sides; and

(b) helps to ensure the ladder’s stability by partly accepting the shape of the pole.

Example—

a steel rope or steel hoop

Penalty—

Maximum penalty for subsection (5) —60 penalty units.