Ladders and scaffolds are involved in many fall injuries on Canadian worksites, often because the equipment was damaged, set up wrong or used for the wrong job. We inspect ladders, fixed access and scaffolds, and help you put routine checks in place so problems are caught before someone climbs.
Inspection rules for this equipment come from provincial OHS legislation and the standards it references. The common thread is that ladders are checked before use and scaffolds are inspected by a competent person before use and at regular intervals, especially after changes or bad weather. We help you meet that expectation in a way that works on your site.
What we look at
- Portable ladders: rails, rungs and steps, feet, spreaders, locks, labels and duty ratings, and whether the right ladder type is being used for each task.
- Fixed ladders: anchorage, rungs, cages or ladder safety systems, landings and access to roofs and equipment.
- Scaffolds: base plates, mudsills and ground conditions, plumb and level, bracing, ties, planking, guardrails, toe boards and safe access.
- Mobile scaffolds and rolling towers: casters and brakes, height-to-base ratios, and outriggers where needed.
- Tagging: how scaffolds are marked as ready for use or not to be used, and who is allowed to change them.
- The program: pre-use checks, competent person inspections, records and how damaged equipment is removed from service.
Erection and alteration. Scaffolds must be erected, altered and dismantled by competent workers following the manufacturer's instructions, provincial rules and, where required, an engineer's design. We do not erect or modify scaffolds. If we find a problem, the scaffold is tagged out and the scaffold contractor corrects it.
How it works
- We start with why. A new project, a recent fall or near miss, an audit finding or an inventory nobody has looked at in years each lead to a different scope.
- Inventory and records. We list the ladders and scaffolds in use and review existing inspection records and procedures.
- Site inspection. We inspect equipment where it is stored and in use, and observe how workers set up and climb.
- Remove from service. Any equipment that is unsafe is tagged out on the spot and reported to you the same day.
- Report and program support. We provide a report and practical checklists your supervisors can use going forward.
A simple routine that works
Most sites do not need a complicated system. They need the same few steps done the same way every time, with a record that someone can find later.
- Before each use: the worker checks the ladder or the scaffold tag. Record nothing if it passes; tag out and report it if it fails.
- Scheduled inspection: a competent person inspects each scaffold at the interval your province requires and after any event that could affect it. Record the date, the inspector, the scaffold location and the result on the tag and in a log.
- Ladder inventory check: at a set interval, inspect every ladder on site against a checklist. Record each ladder's identifier and condition.
- Removal from service: damaged equipment is tagged, taken out of use and either repaired by the scaffold contractor or destroyed. Record what happened to it.
What you get
A written report listing each ladder or scaffold inspected, its condition and any action taken, with photos of defects. You also get recommendations on inspection routines and simple checklists sized to your operation. If you need it, we can help train supervisors on what to look for, and fold ladder and scaffold checks into your wider safety program.
Many of the problems we find are not about the equipment itself but about selection: a stepladder used as a straight ladder, a household-grade ladder on a commercial job, or a rolling tower used outdoors in wind. The report calls these out and suggests safer alternatives where they exist.
Problems we commonly find
| Problem | Why it is dangerous |
|---|---|
| Scaffold on soft ground or blocks with no mudsills | Settlement can tip or rack the scaffold |
| Missing guardrails, midrails or toe boards on a working platform | Workers and materials can fall from the edge |
| Ties removed to make room for other trades | The scaffold loses lateral support and can pull away from the building |
| Partly planked platforms or planks that overhang without being secured | Planks can tip or slide when stepped on |
| Ladders with bent rails, missing feet or no labels | Load rating unknown; ladder can slip or fail |
| Ladders set too steep or too shallow, or not extending past the landing | Ladder can slide out or tip back, and stepping off at the top is unsafe |
Who it's for
- Contractors and site supervisors who need scaffolds inspected and documented.
- Facility and maintenance managers with ladder inventories and fixed roof access.
- Safety managers responding to audit findings or OHS orders.
- Property managers who want roof and mechanical access checked.
See our ladder inspection checklist, scaffold inspection checklist and the guide to the fall protection hierarchy. For fall arrest equipment and training, see lift safety and fall arrest.
Common questions
How often should scaffolds be inspected?
Provincial rules generally require inspection by a competent person before first use and at regular intervals afterwards, and after anything that could affect the scaffold, such as high winds, impacts or alterations. Check your province's requirements for specific intervals.
Can a damaged ladder be repaired?
In most cases a damaged ladder should be removed from service and destroyed. Field repairs to rails or rungs are not a safe substitute for replacement.
Who counts as a competent person?
Generally, someone qualified by knowledge, training and experience to do the work, familiar with the applicable legislation and able to recognize hazards. Your province's OHS rules define the term.
Should we tag every scaffold?
A clear tagging system is standard practice and in some provinces is expected or required. It tells workers at a glance whether a scaffold has been inspected and is safe to use, and who to contact if it is not.