Risk Assessment: Construction and Civil Works
Workers Affected by Works Hazards
Rules for acting
- Works and installation ladders: Securing
- Use only if the hazard may be considered under control. It is always preferable to employ scaffolding, platforms or other means for accessing heights that are equipped with collective protection devices.
- When going up or down stairs, hold the handrail.
- Step on all the steps, without skipping any.
- Wear proper footwear.
- Inform of any anomaly observed on stairways.
- Use ladders properly, avoiding using other elements instead.
- Step ladders must be equipped with safety braces and are not to be used as support ladders.
- Support ladders must have non-slip devices at the bottom or be equipped with a hooking system at the top.
- Avoid defective or slippery ladders. Maintenance.
- Install life-lines when necessary (supports, lintels, etc.).
- Truck “boxes”:
- Use the provided access ways to get on and off vehicles.
- Always get down facing the vehicle.
- Portable ladders:
- Portable ladders may be used for working at heights only when the level of risk is low and the characteristics of the site cannot be modified.
- Use ladders properly, avoiding using other elements instead.
- Step ladders must be equipped with safety braces and are not to be used as support ladders.
- Climb up and down ladders facing the ladder, do not do so with your back to the ladder.
- Properly secure the tops of ladders.
- Support ladders must have non-slip devices at the bottom or be equipped with a hooking system at the top.
- Avoid defective or slippery ladders. Maintenance.
- Install life-lines when necessary (supports, lintels, etc.).
- Do not use portable ladders whose strength is not guaranteed (manufacturer). The use of improvised building ladders is forbidden.
- Ladders are to be checked both before their use and periodically.
- Position ladders in such a way that their stability is assured, on a stable support of suitable dimensions that is both strong and immobile so that the rungs are horizontal.
- Checks carried out prior to using portable ladders as well as the health and safety instructions that must be complied with when using them are included in procedure ITS55: Safety when using ladders.
