Ladders and Scaffolds: Reaching New Heights in Safety

Through proper selection, inspection, setup, and adherence to safety basics, crews can significantly reduce fall hazards and ensure safer performance at height.

• By Nolan Seward
• Nov 20, 2025

In my career as a young safety professional, I have been exposed to several industries and the various hazards an employee may encounter during their tenure. Over the past few years, I have noticed an increasing amount of attention being directed towards fall hazards, especially when performing work with the use of ladders and scaffolding.  

A recent construction project where I provided safety support involved extensive elevated work to modify and reinforce the structure of a multi-story testing space that would include flammable materials. Walls and doors within the space needed to be reinforced to withstand larger forces for upcoming work, and part of this involved using large bolts and cables in a blast door restraint system. Holes needed to be placed into the concrete walls with a hammer drill. One of the main challenges was drilling the holes above standing height.  

Ladders are commonly used for this type of work, but as we discovered, ladders don’t always provide access or a secure, stable platform needed to perform physical tasks. We faced both access issues. Due to auxiliary equipment in the way and a lack of a stable work location, crew members would have to lean beyond the edge of the ladder and use two hands to perform the task. This created a significant fall hazard. After a brief stand down to reassess the task, we determined scaffolding would be the best solution to provide a consistent footing at elevation, room to work, and allow the crew members to get close to the wall, minimizing any lean potential. Significant hazards existed but were solved with patience and teamwork. Proper scaffold setup, regular inspections, and good housekeeping allowed this task to be completed with no incidents.  

Why It Matters 

 It is no secret that falls are one of the most common causes of serious or fatal injury in the workplace, and ladders and scaffolds can play a big role in that. From my experience, the chance of these types of events happening increases when people are in a hurry, take shortcuts, or try to make do with whatever equipment is available around them. Often this means using a ladder when it’s probably not the best tool for the job, simply because it’s quick and easy to set up and climb. 

I have seen plenty of scenarios where a ladder is on uneven ground, not quite tall enough or in the right place to access the needed area without overreaching, or climbed by a worker with a handful of tools. Scaffolds can be an improvement, but since they take more time to set up, there is pressure to take shortcuts. One of the most frequent occurrences I have come across in my career with scaffolds is seeing a quickly pieced together setup that will “get by” since the work will not take long. So, a few parts are missing - what could go wrong? You can probably get away with this dozens of times without an issue, but it only takes one small mistake to result in a serious injury or worse that could have easily been prevented. 

Ladder Safety Basics 

Ladders are simple tools, and that is precisely why it can be easy to overlook hazards involved with them. They are used regularly in many industries which builds up the perfect opportunity for complacency. It can be easy to let bad habits creep into the work regimen when doing repetitive work, but this can be prevented by covering the safety basics with employees. 

A few basics to follow when it comes to ladders: 

• Pick the right ladder for the job. The shape, height, or material of the ladder can quickly let you know if it will be right for the job. Make sure the material of the ladder will not cause additional hazards (Eg, we would not use a metal ladder to stand on and perform electrical work because of its conductivity). Step ladders work well for overhead work but are not designed for leaning against walls. Extension ladders are designed for higher access, but are only safe when set up at the proper angle.  
• Pre-Use Inspection. Take the time to look over a ladder for bent rungs, cracked frame, missing feet, or any other issues that may impact the integrity of the ladder. 
• Have solid grounding. Ladders should always be placed on a flat, even surface. Verify that the ladder is not being placed on gravel, mud, or uneven concrete that could result in an unexpected shift of weight.  
• Do not reach. If you find yourself leaning outside the side of the ladder, you will have an increased chance of tipping over. Take the time to climb down the ladder and readjust it to a more ideal position.  
• Maintain three points of contact. The idea is to have at least two feet and one hand, or two hands and one foot, on the ladder. This best practice becomes harder to accomplish when performing work on the ladder that requires both hands. If you need to use both hands while working on a ladder, a platform ladder, lift, or small scaffold may be safer. 

Scaffold Safety 

Scaffolds have similar risks as ladders, but also have some additions to the list. Scaffolds typically involve more height, more equipment, and typically have more than one person using it at a time. When there are more risks at stake, there is potential for larger consequences. Key Elements: 

• Importance of planking. All platforms should be fully planked with ends secured to prevent shifting.  
• Guardrails protect employees from the edge. Top rails, mid rails, and toe boards in scaffolding prevent fall risk and tools or materials from falling off. 
• Weight limits. It is important to track the weight limits of the scaffolding and how much weight is being brought onto it — employees, tools, materials, etc. Just looking like it can hold more weight does not count as justification.  
• Proper access. Braces and cross members are not to be used as ladders. Some scaffolds include built-in access, but if not, the use of a ladder or stairs should be integrated.  
• Inspections. If scaffolding is up for multiple days, it needs to be inspected daily prior to use by a competent person. A visual inspection prior to work can catch potential risks such as loose planks, missing rails, or an uneven work surface. Scaffolding should also be inspected if anything happens that could impact its stability such as weather or being moved around.  

Common mistakes i see with ladders and scaffolds: 

• Standing on the top rung of a ladder.  
• Carrying tools or materials in hand while climbing a ladder instead of using a belt or hoist.  
• Ladders being used as a workstation instead of a way to reach the work.  
• Using the wrong ladder for the job.  

Best practices for everyday use: 

• Inspect before use. Looking over equipment, even briefly, can prevent the use of defective or damaged equipment.  
• Short or long job. Ladders are typically best for quick jobs. If the task takes longer or ties up both hands, consider using something more stable.  
• Talk about it. Toolbox talks and morning briefings are great opportunities to remind others what hazards are involved with ladders and scaffolds and what safe use looks like.  
• Do not be afraid to stop. If equipment looks dangerous, it probably is. Take the time to assess the equipment and address issues.  

Ladders and scaffolds seem simple, but that is what can lead to trouble. The safest jobs I have been involved with are those where the crew slowed down enough to inspect the equipment, set up properly, and avoid shortcuts.  

It does not take much effort to make safe decisions with ladders and scaffolds, but it does take attention. Like any piece of equipment, treat it with respect and you make it much more likely that every worker who goes up has a safe way back down.  

This article originally appeared in the November/December 2025 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.