Ladder inspection checklist
Ladder falls are among the most common construction injuries, and most trace back to a damaged ladder or a bad setup. Inspect before use: rails, rungs, feet, and hardware, then the setup itself (the 4-to-1 angle and the 3-foot extension above the landing). A defective ladder gets tagged and removed, not "used carefully".
Ladder inspection checklist
Company: ____________
Jobsite: ____________
Date: ____________
Ladder details
| Ladder ID / location: ____________ | N/A · Action | |
| Type: step / extension / platform | N/A · Action | |
| Duty rating adequate for the user plus tools | N/A · Action |
Condition
| Side rails: no cracks, bends, or splits | N/A · Action | |
| Rungs and steps: none missing, loose, or slippery (oil, mud, paint) | N/A · Action | |
| Feet: slip-resistant pads present and intact | N/A · Action | |
| Hardware: rung locks, pulleys, and ropes work; spreaders lock (step ladders) | N/A · Action | |
| Labels legible; no homemade repairs | N/A · Action |
Setup (extension ladders)
| Angle roughly 4-to-1 (base one foot out for every four feet up) | N/A · Action | |
| Extends at least 3 feet above the landing surface | N/A · Action | |
| Tied off or otherwise secured against movement | N/A · Action | |
| Firm, level base; no boxes or blocks under the feet | N/A · Action | |
| Clear of doorways and traffic, or barricaded | N/A · Action | |
| Kept away from power lines and energized equipment | N/A · Action |
Use rules confirmed with the crew
| Three points of contact climbing | N/A · Action | |
| Belt buckle stays between the rails (no overreaching) | N/A · Action | |
| Tools raised by rope or holster, not carried in hand | N/A · Action | |
| Top step and top cap of a step ladder are not steps | N/A · Action |
Decision
| Ladder SAFE for use | N/A · Action | |
| Ladder DEFECTIVE: tag "Do Not Use" and remove from service; reported to: ____________ | N/A · Action |
Completed by: ____________________
Signature: ____________________
tailgatedocs.com · Free printable form. Not legal advice; adapt to your jobsite.
Common questions
▸How often do ladders have to be inspected?
Before each use by the person using it, and periodically by a competent person per your program. Any ladder involved in a tip-over or found defective comes out of service until repaired or destroyed.
▸What are the two setup numbers to remember?
Four to one: the base sits one foot away from the wall for every four feet of height to the support point. Three feet: an extension ladder extends at least three feet above the surface you are stepping onto.
Ladder work at height belongs in your JHA. Generate a task-specific one for $29.
Forms record what happened on the job; the JHA, safety plan, or written program is what a GC, prequal portal, or inspector asks to see. Generate a verified, job-specific one in minutes.