Ladder Safety Course: Lessons 2026

Lesson 1: Is a ladder the right tool?

Falls from ladders cause many serious injuries at work. Common causes are using the wrong ladder, using a damaged ladder, setting it up badly and not being trained. The first question is always: is there a safer way to reach the work?

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) says not to use a ladder when a fixed stairway, scaffold or other safe access is available. British Columbia's OHS Regulation (section 13.6) says that if work cannot be done from a ladder without hazard, a work platform must be provided.

Types and grades

Stepladders stand on their own. They have a top cap and often a pail shelf.
Straight and extension ladders are not self-supporting. They must lean on a solid structure.
The CSA standard for portable ladders is CSA Z11. CCOHS lists Grade 1 as heavy duty, Grade 2 as medium duty and Grade 3 as light duty. The standard also has Grades 1A and 1AA.
On Ontario construction projects, a portable ladder must be Grade 1, 1A or 1AA (O. Reg. 213/91, s. 80).

Read the labels. The load rating must cover your body weight plus the tools and materials you carry. Where electricity is a hazard, use a fibreglass ladder, not a metal one such as aluminum, because metal conducts electricity. CCOHS says to keep ladders and tools at least 10 ft (about 3 m) from power lines, and local rules may ask for more.

Lesson 2: Inspect before you climb

CCOHS says to inspect a ladder when it is new, before every use, after it has been dropped and before it goes into storage. In British Columbia, a ladder must be inspected before use on each shift (OHS Regulation, s. 13.3).

Inspection checklist

Rungs and steps: none missing, none loose
Rails: no cracks, splits, bends or twists (sight along the rails)
Feet: non-slip feet present and not worn
Hardware: bolts, rivets, hinges, spreaders and locks tight and working
Wood: no rot or splinters; fibreglass: no cracks or exposed fibres
Extension ladders: locks set properly; ropes not frayed
Labels: the identification and rating labels are still there
No grease, oil or mud on rungs

If you find a defect, tag the ladder and take it out of service. Do not make quick repairs with tape or wire, and do not straighten or use a bent ladder. Only a person authorized by the manufacturer may repair it; otherwise it is destroyed.

CCOHS says not to paint wooden ladders, because paint can hide cracks and other defects. A clear sealer or wood preservative is fine. On Ontario construction projects, a custom-built wooden ladder must not have an opaque coating (O. Reg. 213/91, s. 80).

Lesson 3: Setting up a leaning ladder

Use the 4-to-1 rule: for every 4 units of height to the top support, set the base 1 unit out from the wall. For example, if the top rests 4 m up, the base is about 1 m out. This gives an angle of about 75 degrees.

Rule	CCOHS guidance	BC (OHS Reg. s. 13.5)	Ontario construction (O. Reg. 213/91)
Angle	4-to-1 rule, about 75°	About 75° from the horizontal	If not fastened, base 1/4 to 1/3 of the ladder's length out (s. 81)
Above a landing	At least 1 m (3 ft)	About 1 m (3 ft)	At least 900 mm (s. 82)
Footing	Firm, level, non-slip	Firm and level surface	Firm and level footing (s. 81)

Rest the ladder on both side rails, never on a rung. Never let the top rest on a gutter, window pane or anything that can break or move.
Secure the ladder at the top and the bottom. Securing only the foot does not stop the top from sliding sideways.
Use a stake if there is nothing to tie the base to. Never prop it on a barrel or box.
If the ladder is in a doorway or walkway, lock the door or barricade it and post a warning.

Lesson 4: Stepladders

A stepladder is only stable when it is fully open with the spreaders locked, and all four feet are on a firm, level surface. Never climb a stepladder that is leaning against a wall; use a straight ladder for that.

Choose a stepladder about 1 m shorter than the highest point you need to reach.
Under Ontario's construction rules (s. 83), do not stand on the top cap, top step or pail shelf.
CCOHS says you are too high if your knees are above the top cap or you cannot keep a handhold.
Set the stepladder close to the work, with the front or back of the steps facing the work, and never "walk" or shift it while you stand on it.
Do not climb the back of a stepladder.

Lesson 5: Climbing and working safely

Keep three points of contact at all times: two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand. Face the ladder going up and down, keep your body centred between the side rails and grip the rungs.

Clean mud, snow, ice or grease off your boots first.
In most cases, only one person on a ladder at a time.
Do not carry tools in your hands. Raise them with a hand-line, hoist or bucket. In BC, workers must not carry heavy or bulky objects up or down a ladder (OHS Regulation, s. 13.6).
Do not overreach. Climb down and move the ladder instead.
On a straight or extension ladder, do not climb higher than the fourth rung from the top.
Do not use a ladder in high winds, and do not let anyone stand under it.

Fall protection and training

CCOHS says fall protection may be needed when you work 3 m (10 ft) or more above the ground. Rules differ by province, so check yours. In Ontario, workers on construction projects who use fall protection must complete working at heights training from a provider approved by the Chief Prevention Officer. It is valid for 3 years, then a refresher is needed.

This course is background knowledge only. Your employer must train you on the ladders and fall protection used at your site.

Lesson 6: Carrying and storing ladders

Carry a ladder near its centre and watch for doorways and corners.
Use a partner to carry long or heavy ladders. CCOHS suggests two people to set up a ladder over 25 kg (55 lb).
Store ladders out of the weather, on racks or wall mounts, supported about every 2 m (6 ft) so they do not sag.
Never hang a ladder by its rungs or pile materials on it.
On a vehicle, tie the ladder at every support and flag any overhang with a red or orange flag.