Queensland Consolidated Regulations

WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY REGULATION 2011 - REG 306M

306M Ladders generally

(1) A person conducting a business or undertaking performing construction work must ensure that a ladder, other than a trestle ladder, used for the work—

(a) has a load rating of at least 120kg; and

(b) is manufactured for industrial use; and

(c) is used only for the purpose for which it is designed; and

(d) is not used to support a weight greater than that for which it is designed; and

(e) is no longer than—

(i) for a single ladder—6.1m; or

(ii) for an extension ladder used to do electrical work within the meaning of the Electrical Safety Act 2002 —9.2m; or

(iii) for another extension ladder—7.5m.

Penalty—

Maximum penalty—60 penalty units.

(2) However, subsection (1) (e) does not apply if the ladder is used for work in a confined space.

Example of a confined space—

a well

(3) A ladder may be taken to have a load rating of at least 120kg if it appears to be marked by its manufacturer to show it has a load rating of at least 120kg.

(4) A ladder may be taken to be manufactured for industrial use if it appears to be marked by its manufacturer to show it is for industrial use.

(5) However, subsection (3) or (4) does not apply if the person knows or suspects that the marking is—

(a) false; or

(b) not the manufacturer’s marking.

(6) The person must ensure that—

(a) the bottom of the ladder is on a stable surface; and

(b) the rungs of the ladder are approximately level.

Penalty—

Maximum penalty—60 penalty units.

(7) The person must not use, or allow another person to use, the ladder to support a platform.

Penalty—

Maximum penalty—60 penalty units.

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

(a) it is placed so that the angle between the ladder and the horizontal is at least 70º but not more than 80º when in use; and

(b) if it is being used as a temporary means of access to or from a surface—the ladder extends at least 1m above the surface.

Penalty—

Maximum penalty—60 penalty units.

(9) However, the ladder may be placed so that the angle between the ladder and the horizontal is more than 80º if—

(a) a lesser angle is impractical because the ladder is being used in a confined space; and

(b) control measures are used to prevent the ladder moving when in use.

Example of a control measure—

securing the top and bottom of the ladder to prevent it moving

(10) Subsection (8) (b) does not apply if—

(a) it is impractical to comply with it, for example, because the work is being done from a surface attached to a pole; and

(b) the person using the ladder is attached to a fall arrest harness system before the person moves from the ladder to the surface.