In 2023/24, 50 workers were fatally injured whilst working from height, the most common kind of fatal accident across this time frame. Ladder lockout clearly has an essential role to play in the health and safety process and, when implemented correctly, can be a life-saving tool.
Employers have a responsibility to make sure that ladders and stepladders are suitable for use, and whilst ladder lockout is great for preventing the use of unsafe ladders, there’s much more to it that we’re about to dive into!
What is ladder lockout?
Our Ladder lockouts are laminated, digitally printed composite panels that are placed on a ladder to restrict the use of mobile and fixed ladders for safety and security reasons. Using these lockouts is integral to lockout tagout procedures, Safe Systems of Work (SSOW), or Working at Height Regulations.
Ladder Lockouts can prevent the use of unsafe or unchecked ladders and prevent operation by unauthorised persons. They can also be used as an additional safeguard to prevent access to dangerous locations.
Why is ladder lockout essential?
If an unsafe ladder is used, there is a chance that a worker will be injured from falling or cut from a damaged rung, for example. Having seen that falls from height already rank as the most common fatal accident in the workplace, do you really want to play roulette with the safety of your employees?
What would happen if an unauthorised person managed to access an area they shouldn’t? In a perfect world, they’d manage to escape unscathed, however it’s not this simple and certainly not always the case. People accessing unauthorised areas may be exposed to dangerous machinery or hazards that can cause injury. Unauthorised personnel may also be untrained to work on equipment located in certain areas.
Ladder lockouts can also be used to prevent access to sensitive areas. If a company wants to protect sensitive data or information, ladder lockout is an ideal solution to prevent access.
Even if you believe your ladders are in perfect working condition, they still need to be checked before each use. Our free ladder safety checklist can help. We have also produced a free ladder safety dos & don’ts flyer to share with employees.
How to choose the correct ladder lockout
Step One – Choose Your Style:
One Piece: Ideal for long-term application and static use
Three Piece: Ideal for compact storage and transportation
Step Two – Choose Your Design:
Locked Out: Used to prevent staff from using unsafe ladders
No Access: Used to prevent staff from accessing unauthorised areas
Custom sizes and designs are available. Please e-mail customsigns@spectrum-industrial.co.uk for more information.
Step Three – Choose Your Tread Depth:
Available Sizes: 50mm, 90mm, 210mm (Custom sizes are available)
Note: For all tread choices, please allow an additional 15mm depth fitting allowance.
How to use ladder lockout
Step One: Hook the ladder lockout over a ladder rung, positioned so the bottom-most rung is slightly visible.
Step Two: Pass the chain through the bottom hole of the lockout and around the bottom rung.
Step Three: Apply an appropriate lockout padlock to the chain as close to the rung as possible. This prevents the ladder lockout from being lifted off the ladder or any links being removed.
Step Four: Apply a suitable tag to ensure compliance with your LOTO procedures and make it easy to identify who is responsible for this lockout.
If you require something tailored to your unique requirements, don’t worry! We manufacture all of our signage and ladder lockouts in-house and are happy to discuss your requirements. Whether you require a different tread depth, size, or design, we have an amazing team on-hand to support you.
We are also here to help if you require additional support with ladder lockout. If you would like to speak with a member of our team, please contact sales@spectrum-industrial.co.uk.
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Full Panel |
Three Panel |
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Locked Out |
Size |
Code |
Size |
Code |
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50mm |
LOK318 |
50mm |
LOK311 |
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90mm |
LOK319 |
90mm |
LOK312 |
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210mm |
LOK320 |
210mm |
LOK313 |
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Full Panel |
Three Panel |
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No Access |
Size |
Code |
Size |
Code |
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50mm |
LOK321 |
50mm |
LOK314 |
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90mm |
LOK322 |
90mm |
LOK315 |
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210mm |
LOK323 |
210mm |
LOK316 |
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