Campus Safety
Safe Work Above Ground – A Timely Reminder
Why Ladders Aren’t the Answer
In a Safetywise article published several years ago, we highlighted the requirements for safe work above ground, emphasizing the importance of proper equipment and procedures to prevent accidents. Despite this guidance, recent observations show that ladders are still being extensively used for tasks that require work above ground. This indicates that the safety requirements are not being fully complied with.
We would like to reiterate and reinforce the message: work above ground carries significant risks, and using inappropriate equipment, such as ladders, increases the likelihood of falls and serious injuries. The Labour Department has issued a work safety alert regarding a fatal accident resulting from a fall from a wooden ladder. [English] [Chinese]
Staff responsible for projects or events that require hiring contractors should enforce compliance with these safety requirements, which are mandatory and must be strictly followed.
Key Points to Remember
- Avoiding above-ground work where possible by, for example, designing and using specific hand tools to allow the work to be done safely on the ground;
- Refraining from using ladders for work of any height;
- Providing and ensuring the use of a suitable light duty working platform (Figure A);
- Where light duty working platform cannot be erected and used in certain work environment (for example, where space is restrictive). Providing and ensuring the proper use of a suitable step platform (梯台) (Figure B) or hop-up platform (功夫櫈) (Figure C) as appropriate;
- When all the above measures are found not feasible in special circumstances such that using ladder is unavoidable, exercising stringent control through conducting a thorough risk assessment, implementing a permit-to-work system and adopting all necessary safety measures related to use of ladders.
