Choosing a ladder for the job, setting it up safely, climbing correctly, and what a tower's guard rails and toe boards do.
When a ladder is the right choice
Work at height should be avoided where you reasonably can, for example by working from ground level or using a different method. Where it cannot be avoided, choose equipment that suits the job: a ladder is a sensible choice only for low-risk, light work lasting no more than 30 minutes at a time in one place. Longer or heavier tasks need a more stable platform, such as a mobile tower or scaffold.
Setting up a leaning ladder
Stand the ladder on firm, level ground, never on packing or an offcut to level it up. Set it at the safe angle of about 1 in 4 — one unit out from the wall for every four units of height, roughly 75 degrees. For a ladder resting 8 m up, that puts the foot about 2 m out (8 divided by 4). Secure the ladder near the top, or have it footed, so it cannot slip sideways or outwards, and rest the top against a strong surface, not glazing or a plastic gutter.
If a task needs you to reach further to one side than the ladder allows, get down and reposition it rather than leaning out.
Climbing and working safely
Keep three points of contact with the ladder as you climb and, wherever you can, while you work — two feet and one hand, or two hands and one foot. Do not work off the top three rungs of a leaning ladder, or stand and work on the top three steps of a stepladder (the very top counts as one) unless there is a suitable handhold. Only carry light materials and tools up a ladder.
Check the ladder before each use for damaged rungs, bent stiles and worn feet, and take a damaged ladder out of use.
Mobile towers
A mobile tower's guard rails stop a person falling from the platform, and its toe boards stop tools or materials being knocked off onto people below — neither replaces a firm, level base with the wheels locked or the outriggers set as the manufacturer specifies. Never move a tower while anyone or any materials are on it.
A working platform used for construction from which someone could fall 2 m or more must have been inspected in that position within the previous 7 days.