40
Maintenance and storing your
ladder
• Keep the ladder in a clean, dry place.
• Hold the ladder � rmly when carrying it.
• Never store materials on your ladder.
• Keep your ladder clean and free from any
foreign matter.
• Clean the ladder after each use.
• Regularly check the parts and hinges of
the ladder. Oil the hinges regularly, but
do so carefully to ensure no oil drips on
the rungs or side rails.
For regular inspection, the following items
shall be taken into account:
• Check that the stiles/legs (uprights)
are not bent, bowed, twisted, dented,
cracked, corroded or rotten;
• Check that the stiles/legs around the
� xing points for other components are in
good condition;
• Check that � xings (usually rivets, screws
or bolts) are not missing, loose, or
corroded;
• Check that rungs/steps are not missing,
loose, excessively worn, corroded or
damaged;
• Check that the hinges between front and
rear sections are not damaged, loose or
corroded;
• Check that the locking stays horizontal,
back rails and corner braces are not
missing, bent, loose, corroded or
damaged;
• Check that the rung hooks are not
missing, damaged, loose or corroded and
engage properly on the rungs;
• Check that guide brackets are not
missing, damaged, loose or corroded and
engage properly on the mating stile;
• Check that rubber feet / end caps are
not missing, loose, excessively worn,
corroded or damaged;
• Check that the entire ladder is free from
contaminants (e.g. dirt, mud, paint, oil or
grease);
• Check that locking catches (if � tted) are
not damaged or corroded and function
correctly;
• Check that the platform (if � tted) has
no missing parts or � xings and is not
damaged or corroded.
If any of the above checks cannot be fully
satis� ed, you should NOT use the ladder.
For special ladder types, further items
identi� ed by the manufacturer shall be taken
into account.
Reasons for accidents
The following list of hazards and examples
of their causes, which is not exhaustive, are
common reasons for accidents encountered
when using ladders and are the basis on
which the information in this manual has
been developed:
a) Loss of stability:
1) Incorrect positioning of the ladder (such
as incorrect angle for leaning ladder or
not fully opening a standing ladder);
2) Slide outwards at the bottom (such as
bottom of the ladder sliding away from
the wall);
3) Side slip, falling sideways and top � ip
(such as overreaching or fragile top
contact surface);
4) Condition of the ladder (such as missing
anti-slip feet);
5) Stepping off an unsecured ladder at
height;
