Pick the right ladder
Pick a ladder that suits the height and the job, and a non-conductive one near electrical work. Don't stand on the top cap or top step of a stepladder, or the top three rungs of an extension ladder.
Free toolbox talk · PDF, Word & Excel
Free ladder safety toolbox talk.
A ten-minute ladder safety talk to give before anyone climbs. It has five key points, three questions for the crew, room for your own site notes and an attendance sign-off.
Free. PDF, Word and Excel.
- Printable PDF, editable Word and Excel
- One page, ten minutes
- Five key points, three crew questions
- Attendance sign-off for 24
Why this talk matters
Ladders are among OSHA's most cited standards
OSHA cited 2,405 ladder violations in construction in FY2025, making ladders the third most cited standard that year. You can get badly hurt falling off a ladder, even from a few feet.
Most ladder falls come down to picking the wrong ladder, setting it up badly, or reaching too far instead of climbing down and moving it. The talk goes through each of those in the order the crew runs into them.
When the crew spots a damaged ladder or a poor setup, Zentri Observations records it on the spot so it gets fixed rather than forgotten.
The key points
Five key points, explained
Check it before you climb
Check the rungs, rails, feet and locks. If it's damaged, tag it and take it out of service.
Set it up at 4 to 1
Put it on firm, level ground, extend it 3 ft (0.9 m) above the landing, and tie it off so it can't move.
Keep three points of contact
Face the ladder with two hands and a foot, or two feet and a hand, on it at all times. Haul tools up or use a belt.
Don't overreach
Keep your belt buckle between the rails. If you have to stretch, climb down and move the ladder.
Ask the crew
Three questions, and what to listen for
Ask each one and give the crew time to answer.
Which ladder are you using today, and is it right for the height and the job? Listen for: the type and height, non-conductive near electrical work, and the load rating.
Where will the ladder stand, and what could knock it or move it? Listen for: firm, level ground, doorways and traffic, and how it's tied off.
What do you do if the ladder you find is damaged? Listen for: tag it out of service and report it. Don't use it.
This talk is provided as general guidance. Site-specific procedures and the requirements of the authority having jurisdiction and your insurer take precedence. Have a competent person review and adapt it before use.
FAQs
Ladder Safety toolbox talk FAQs
A ten-minute briefing before ladder work. It covers picking the right ladder, checking it, setting it up, three points of contact and not overreaching.
Set the base of an extension ladder out from the wall by about a quarter of its working length. That means 1 ft out for every 4 ft up to where it rests.
No. OSHA prohibits standing on the top cap or the top step. Many ladder labels mark more steps as off limits, so follow the label on the ladder.
Yes. The Word and Excel versions are editable. Add your own ladder rules, storage and recent near misses in the On this site box.
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Spotting ladder problems on site? Zentri Observations records them on the spot so they get fixed.