A safe use of step ladders toolbox talk, can be used to improve the capability of employees using stepladders across various industries. The frequency of fall from height involving step ladders, is more than any other type of work equipment. Often accidents could have been avoided, if training in the form of a safe use of step ladders toolbox talk is provided. There is no doubt this toolbox talk can be quite helpful; however, further training may be necessary to offer a complete level of proficiency. For current workers the step ladder toolbox talk can act as a reminder.
Objective
One must keep in mind that the primary objective of any toolbox talk, is to increase workforce awareness regarding risks and hazards. Regardless of the fact that one of the most common causes of accidents in working at height is stepladders, it is not practicably possible to remove the use of them. A major advantage of a task specific toolbox talk, is that it is brief, get to the point and identify relevant hazards.
What to Include in a Safe Use of Step Ladders Toolbox Talk
A step ladders toolbox talk must include the main causes of ladder accidents, such as substandard ladder, ladder movement while in use, contact with electricity, slipping form rungs, overreaching by worker and ladder not secure or fixed. Besides highlighting all the potential hazards by using a step ladder, it is important to explain the mitigating actions that can be taken to avoid them. In this context it is important that we don’t demoralise the intelligence and common sense of the employees.
Furthermore, this safety talk should cover precautionary measures during working on step ladders for the safety of workers. The workers must ensure the ladder is grabbed by somebody at the bottom, if there is no way to tie it to the structure of item that is being worked on. The employees must be properly trained for using ladders and inspecting them in the required manner. If there is any defect ladder, then it should be moved from the workplace and tagged with a highly visible “Do Not Use” label or sign. In the same way, the use of step ladders must be strictly prohibited in adverse weather conditions, such as heavy rain, high wind or similar. The use of safety helmet, safety shoes, safety harness, and gloves should be made mandatory while working on step ladder.
Additionally, it holds paramount value that step ladders should have a label that contains its details, including serial number, size, highest standing level, duty rating, maximum reach and model number. Above all, getting feedback from the onsite teams about specific issues of using step ladders in particular locations is very beneficial to prevent accidents. Certainly, it is vital to develop safety toolbox talks in an interesting and suitable way, on the other hand it is also essential to make them useful in practical ways.
If you need to provide a toolbox talk related to step ladders, then our Step Ladder Toolbox Talk might be of interest to you.
Alternatively, if you are looking for a range of ready to deliver toolbox talks, then you might be interested in our toolbox talk packages. These include a range of toolbox talks at a cost-effective price.
