How do I work safely at height?

Ladder angle, footing and the rule about reaching — plus knowing when a ladder is the wrong tool entirely.

Difficulty: beginner
Time: 20 min
Read: 2 min
Safety: warning

Short answer

One out for every four up, three points of contact, and never let your belt buckle go past the stiles. If the job needs both hands or takes more than a few minutes, use a tower or a platform rather than a ladder.

Most falls are not from roofs. They are from stepladders, at low height, during a job someone expected to take two minutes. Overreaching and poor footing account for the majority, and both are entirely avoidable.

Safety

Falls from height are one of the most common causes of serious and fatal injury in and around the home, and most happen from low heights during short jobs. Never work at height alone if you can avoid it, never overreach, and never stand on the top two steps of a ladder. If the job needs both hands, a ladder is the wrong equipment.

What you'll need

Ladder in good condition
Someone to foot the ladder (optional)
Ladder stabiliser (optional)
Non-slip footwear

The four-to-one rule for setting a ladder

Step by step

Check the ladder before every use.Bent stiles, loose rungs, worn feet, damaged locking mechanisms. Ladders fail at their weakest point and a quick look finds most problems.
Set it at the right angle — one out for four up.For every four units of height, the base sits one unit out from the wall. Too steep and it tips back; too shallow and the base slides out.
Get the footing right.Firm, level and non-slippery ground. Never on soft earth, gravel, a doormat or a slippery patio. Use a board to spread the load on soft ground.
Secure the top and bottom.Tie the top where possible, or have someone foot it. An unsecured ladder against a smooth wall can slide sideways without warning.
Extend it well past the landing point.At least a metre above where you step off. Climbing over the top of a ladder is where a large share of falls happen.
Keep three points of contact.Two feet and a hand, or two hands and a foot, at all times. If the job requires both hands continuously, a ladder is the wrong equipment.
Never let your belt buckle pass the stiles.The simplest test for overreaching. If you have to lean out past the side rails, get down and move the ladder. Moving it takes twenty seconds.
Use the right equipment for longer jobs.A ladder is for short-duration light work. Anything sustained, or needing tools and materials, wants a tower or a platform.

Tips

Never stand on the top two steps of a stepladder. That is what the label says and it is where a great many accidents happen.
Working alone at height is the factor that turns a fall into a serious outcome. Tell someone, or wait until there is someone in.
Hiring a small tower for a day costs very little against the cost of a fall, and makes the job faster as well as safer.

Common mistakes

Overreaching to avoid moving the ladder — It shifts the centre of gravity outside the base and the ladder slides sideways. This is the single most common cause of ladder falls.
Standing a ladder on soft or uneven ground — One foot sinks or slips and the whole thing goes. Level, firm footing is not optional.

Questions people ask

What angle should a ladder be at?

One unit out for every four units of height — roughly 75 degrees. Too steep risks tipping backwards, too shallow risks the base sliding out.

When should I not use a ladder?

When the job needs both hands, takes more than a few minutes, or requires carrying tools and materials up. Use a tower or platform instead.