Rolling ladders are safe, elevated work surfaces designed for easy movement across a floor. They’re integral to warehouses, storage facilities, distribution centers, and retail locations. Many preventable injuries and accidents result from misusing mobile ladder stands and platforms, but thorough training and maintenance helps to prevent these incidents.

Using Rolling Ladders and Platforms

Although rolling ladders can vary by workplace requirements, they fall into two broad categories:

• Mobile ladder stands are fixed-height, self-supporting staircases with room for one worker at the top.
• Mobile ladder stand platforms feature an elevated work surface with room for multiple workers as well as materials and tools.
  

Both types of rolling ladders have a locking mechanism that prevents the stand from sliding on its wheels or casters while in use.

Employees can safely work on rolling ladders in two ways: by choosing the right one for the job and by using it properly.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), choosing the ladder that best fits the job’s requirements is essential. Common considerations may include the platform’s size, height, mobility, and loading capabilities as well as the location, duration, and complexity of a task. 

Improper movement of rolling ladders can cause workplace accidents and injuries. When moving a mobile ladder stand or platform:

• Make sure the ladder has no one on it; never move an occupied ladder.
• Withdraw the locking mechanism so that the stand can move freely.
• Stay alert to avoid hitting other workers, objects, or structures.
  

A ladder in use should be secure. When working on a rolling ladder:

• Using its locking mechanism, lock the stand in place on a flat, smooth surface.
• Make sure all steps and platforms are slip-resistant, dry, spill-free, and clear of all debris.
• Keep both feet on the same step or platform, and don’t overreach when working.
• Use the ladder only for its designed purpose.
• Avoid adding objects or standing on rails or toeboards to gain height.

Workplace Training and Inspection for Rolling Ladders

Employers must train workers in how to use mobile ladder stands and platforms, as well as their care, storage, inspection, and specific components. A workplace health and safety program should establish:

• Training procedures for mobile ladder stand and platform use.
• Procedures for safe use, which may incorporate the conditions of specific worksite areas.
• The location of all rolling ladders and manufacturer’s instructions.
• Roles and responsibilities for rolling ladder use, training, maintenance, and inspection.

An employer should retrain a worker if they are found to be using a rolling ladder in an unsafe manner or are involved in an incident or near-miss.

A worker with proper training should inspect each rolling ladder on a schedule set by manufacturer’s recommendations, which should be documented and a visible date of inspection displayed on each ladder. They should also be inspected before each work shift in which they are used. If one is defective, it should be clearly marked with a ”Dangerous: Do Not Use” tag and removed from service to be repaired.

The height and size of a rolling ladder makes safe operation a pressing concern; a fall from one can be particularly serious. Clear expectations and responsibilities laid out by a thorough workplace safety program help workers take better care of their equipment and each other.