Do you know the ladder laws in your state/territory?

Do You Know the Ladder Laws in Your State/Territory?

Workplace health and safety laws exist to protect workers from preventable harm, but like most legislation, they can be challenging to interpret in their legal format. Understanding ladder-specific requirements helps reduce risk on any job where working at height is unavoidable.

For this week's newsletter, we decided to examine what the regulations actually say about using a ladder at work. After all, the Acts and Regulations remain the genuine point of truth for legal requirements around equipment use.

We'll also show you how to find this information yourself. We chose to look at Queensland laws for this example, but the process remains identical no matter what state or territory you work in.

Step 1: Where Do We Look?

The first step involves visiting the WHS regulator's website — in this case, WorkSafe QLD. From the home page, finding the regulations is straightforward: navigate to the laws and compliance page, then follow links through to the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011.

This is where specific laws about using ladders in Queensland workplaces can be found.

Step 2: An Easy Way to Search

A quick search within the regulation for the term 'Ladders' takes readers to Sections 306-K through 306-O, where detailed information about ladder equipment use appears.

Step 3: Interpreting the Regulations

This is where some people start to glaze over, because legislation gets written in a particular style due to legal requirements it must cover.

Ladders offer a fairly easy starting point, but even so, certain details deserve attention. For example, section 306-K (b) states that a person must not use a ladder to perform construction work — unless the task counts as "permitted work."

This wording confuses people who don't realise they now need to look up the definition of "permitted work" to understand what it actually means.

Step 4: What Does It Actually Say About Single or Extension Ladders?

Below, we summarise and paraphrase the actual wording under each section, including the definition of permitted work, so you can see what compliance requires.

What Work May Be Done From Single or Extension Ladders? (Section 306-K)

• A person can only use a ladder if they maintain three points of contact, e.g. 2 feet and 1 hand.
• Weight, size or shape of any equipment or material being carried must not restrict movement or cause loss of balance on the ladder.
• The person's body should stay centred on the ladder at all times.
• Equipment being used must be operable with 1 hand, unless a control measure supporting the body is worn or used.

Working on a Ladder for Housing Construction (3m+) or Other Work (2m+)

• Three points of contact must be maintained, e.g. 2 feet and 1 hand, on the ladder.
• A fall must be prevented by a control measure — for example, a pole strap.
• Alternatively, use a fall arrest harness system not attached to the ladder.
• The ladder must be secured at or near the top or bottom to prevent movement.
• Despite the three points of contact rule, a person may hold a stable object, such as guttering or a wall frame, with one or both hands instead of gripping the ladder.
• Any single or extension ladder used against a pole needs a device fitted at or near the top that helps ensure stability by partly accepting the shape of the pole.

These requirements around extension ladder use reflect broader fall risk controls found throughout WHS regulation.

Step 5: Is There More?

Yes — in general, the regulations also state that single and extension ladders must meet the following requirements:

• Have a load rating of at least 120kg and be manufactured for industrial use.
• Be used only for the purpose for which it was designed.
• Not exceed the following lengths:
  • Single ladder — 6.1m
  • Extension ladder — 7.5m
  • Extension ladder used for electrical work within the meaning of the Electrical Safety Act 2002 — 9.2m
• Never be used to support a platform.
• Be placed so the angle between the ladder and horizontal sits at least 70º but no more than 80º when in use.

However, a ladder may be placed at an angle greater than 80º if a lesser angle proves impractical because the equipment is being used in a confined space, and control measures prevent the ladder from moving during use.

If a ladder serves as temporary means of access, it must extend at least 1m above the surface being accessed.

Step 6: Can I Get Help Understanding What Is Required?

Yes, absolutely. As stated earlier, the regulations remain the point of truth but can prove difficult for a layperson to read and understand.

This is why regulators, in conjunction with Safe Work Australia, provide easy-to-understand resources such as Codes of Practice, guidance notes and other supporting material addressing common hazards.

This type of material appears on the regulator's website for your state and gets written in plain English, so you know exactly what compliance requires — reducing risk of misinterpreting legal obligations around equipment use, electrical work, or general construction tasks.

Can SafetyDocs by SafetyCulture Help?

SafetyDocs provides easy-to-understand templates, forms and checklists supporting all your regulated safety requirements. Whether you need guidance on gutter cleaning using a ladder or broader workplace safety documentation, browse our store to find the perfect document for your job.

For further reading on managing workplace risk, see The Top 10 Safety Management Documents You Need to Know.