Know what to look out for to keep you safe on your ladders and scaffolding systems. Here are 10 ways to keep your ladders and scaffolds in ship shape ready for the year ahead!

Ladders

  1. Check the rubber feet. Have they worn through to the aluminium? Not only will this affect the ladder’s stability but this could also damage floors or other surfaces. We provide replacement feet for all Easy Access ladders.
  2. Carefully remove any plaster or other spills that may have clogged hinges and side stays. These jams can inhibit efficient use and cause corrosion. After completely clearing the jam, apply lubricant to the hinges for better performance.
  3. Check the ladder for buckling, cracks and missing parts or any rivets that may have come loose over time. These and cracked or fractured welds will compromise the safe use of the ladder. Contact us if parts need replacing.
  4. In order to be compliant onsite in NZ, ladders must have an ‘INDUSTRIAL’ label attached and display the maximum load-tested weight rating for the ladder. The minimum suggested load rating for ladders on a commercial site in New Zealand is 150Kg.

    Scaffold Towers
  5. Ensure all required components are present and in good working order. For example, plan braces provide the necessary strength to make the unit safe and compliant. They must be used every time.
  6. Ensure there is a complete set of guardrails, and that all grasper clips are in full working condition.
  7. Check welds for any cracking or fracturing that could compromise safety. Check casters and lubricate around the axle points. Ensure all brakes are functioning, and easy to engage and disengage.
  8. A set of toeboards is required on scaffolds where a person or object can fall more than 2 metres. Some sites require toeboards regardless of height, so ensure they are used every time.
  9. New Zealand regulations dictate that scaffold towers should be accessed from within the footprint of the tower. Easy Access can provide a separate clip-on ladder if the ladder is missing.
  10. When working at a height to width ratio of more than 3:1 a scaffold must be secured with outriggers to be compliant (unless it is securely attached to a solid support surface). Outriggers are available separately from Tradextra.

Read more here!