Working at Heights · 2–5 min toolbox talk
Damaged Ladders: Recognition and Removal From Service
Covers serious ladder defects, unsafe contamination, unauthorized repairs, stopping use, and keeping damaged ladders out of service until properly repaired or replaced.
Use this printed script for your tailgate or toolbox talk. Read through the hazards, script, and questions with your crew.
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“Damaged Ladders: Recognition and Removal From Service”
Key Hazards
- Falls from cracked, bent, or damaged ladders
- Loose, broken, or missing rungs, steps, feet, or locks
- Slippery ladder surfaces from oil, mud, water, ice, or chemicals
- Workers continuing to use ladders after damage is found
- Unsafe temporary repairs hiding serious defects
- Damaged ladders returned to storage for the next worker
2–3 Minute Talk Script
A damaged ladder should not be treated as a minor inconvenience. Ladder damage can lead directly to a fall.
Workers should inspect ladders before use and after any incident such as a drop, impact, tip-over, vehicle contact, or overload.
Rails, rungs, steps, feet, spreaders, locks, ropes, pulleys, labels, and hardware should be checked for damage or missing parts.
Cracks, bends, loose rungs, broken feet, split rails, damaged locks, missing labels, corrosion, or exposed fiberglass fibers are warning signs.
Contamination can also make a ladder unsafe. Oil, grease, mud, ice, wet paint, chemical residue, or debris can cause slips.
Damaged ladders should be removed from service immediately, tagged if required, and kept where another worker cannot accidentally use them.
Workers should not make unauthorized repairs with tape, wire, screws, boards, or improvised parts.
Safe ladder damage control depends on recognizing defects, stopping use immediately, removing the ladder from service, and replacing or repairing it only through approved methods.
Safety Reminders
- Inspect ladders before use.
- Reinspect ladders after drops, impacts, or overloads.
- Check rails, rungs, feet, locks, spreaders, and labels.
- Do not use cracked, bent, broken, or contaminated ladders.
- Remove damaged ladders from service immediately.
- Do not make unauthorized repairs.
- Keep unsafe ladders away from workers until repaired or replaced.
Ask the Crew
- Has this ladder been inspected today?
- Are rails, rungs, feet, locks, or spreaders damaged?
- Has the ladder been dropped, struck, or overloaded?
- Is the ladder contaminated with oil, mud, water, ice, or chemicals?
- How will this ladder be removed from service if damage is found?