Ladder and Step Ladder Inspection Training
A pre-use check is not the same as a formal inspection. The law requires both.
Every user should give a ladder or step ladder a quick visual check before each use. However, the Work at Height Regulations 2005 (Regulation 12) go further. Employers and the self-employed have a legal duty to carry out formal inspection of work equipment, including ladders and step ladders. This must happen at suitable intervals, after the equipment is set up, and every time “exceptional circumstances” occur that could affect its safety.
These formal inspections cover condition, wear, damage and more. They must be carried out by a competent person, and must result in a report that is kept on file for a minimum period.
Becoming that competent person requires proper training. In our view, an online course is not sufficient for this subject. What is needed is hands-on practice and face-to-face guidance, inspecting real ladders and steps under instruction. That is what this course provides.
What You Will Learn
- The legal framework, including the Work at Height Regulations 2005 (Regulation 12), PUWER 1998, and RIDDOR reporting obligations
- What “competent person” means in the context of ladder inspection, and how to demonstrate that competence
- The difference between a pre-use check and a formal inspection, and why both matter
- What to inspect: stiles, rungs, treads, feet, locking mechanisms, spreader bars, rivets and welds
- Recognising damage, wear, corrosion and contamination, and what each means for the equipment’s continued use
- When “exceptional circumstances” require an inspection, even outside the normal schedule
- Completing a formal inspection report: what to record, how to record it, and how long to keep it
- Deciding when to remove equipment from service
Course Details
| Format | Face to face, hands-on practical. You will inspect a variety of ladders and step ladders, from a couple of rungs to several metres |
| Group size | Minimum 4, maximum 12 per instructor |
| Certificate | Issued by Chris Garland Training, PDF as standard |
| Assessment | Practical inspection assessments, conducted by your instructor |
| Venue | Knutsford training centre, or at your premises nationwide |
Certificate:
- Ladder & Steps Inspector Training
- You will receive an A4 sized PDF certificate issued by Chris Garland Training that is valid for 3 years.
Course duration:
- 4 guided learning hours.
Time:
- Typically 09:00-13:00hrs & 13:30-17:30. Please note the exact times for your course booking.
Test:
- Practical assessment:
- You’ll undertake an inspection of a set of ladders and steps. This is assessed by your instructor.
Pre-requisites:
- Candidates should be at least 18 years old to undertake this qualification.
- We recommend that you have a minimum of GCSE grade C/Level 2 literacy and numeracy (or equivalent) before undertaking this course. This is not mandatory – please contact us to discuss any reasonable adjustments to accommodate your needs.
Candidates:
- All courses have a minimum and maximum number of candidates that we can take on a course.
- Minimum: We need a minimum of 4 candidates booked on an open/scheduled course for the course to run. Click here for more details. There is no minimum for a private course.
- Maximum: We are limited by the Health & Safety Executive, and where applicable by the Awarding Organisation, to a maximum of 12 candidates per instructor. Should you have more than 12 candidates that need to be trained, please contact us to arrange a private course, where we can arrange for a second instructor/assessor to be present to comply with this restriction.
Geographical coverage:
- This ladder & step ladder inspection training course is available to candidates throughout the UK.
- The course can be delivered in other countries however candidates should be aware that the content was developed in accordance with current UK practice.
Venue:
- Scheduled courses run at our training centre in Knutsford, Cheshire.
- Why not arrange to have a private courses run at your workplace? Simply fill in our quote builder tool to request a quotation.
Joining instructions:
- All candidates are to bring their own:
- clean hi-viz
- hard hat (not bump cap)
- work gloves
- steel toe-capped safety footwear
- Visit this page to read the course joining instructions.
- Where your course is not being run at our main training centre, you’ll also receive an email with additional joining instructions including the venue address.
How This Fits With Our Other Ladder Courses
- Ladder and Stepladder User Safety Training covers safe selection, pre-use checks and safe technique for using ladders and steps. It does not cover formal inspection.
- Ladder and Step Ladder Inspection Training (this course) covers formal inspection only. It is for those who already use ladders safely, but now need to act as the “competent person” who inspects them.
- Ladder and Step Ladder Use and Inspection Training combines both into a single course, for those who need both skills.
- Ladder and Step Ladder User Safety Refresher Training is a 2-hour refresher for those who have already completed user safety training.
If you are not sure which combination is right for your team, contact us. We are happy to advise.
Ladder & Step Ladder Inspection Training
ChrisGarland –
Recent reviews collected directly after the course:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – “Excellent course and very effective. This will help save the company lots of money. Thanks”
ChrisGarland –
Recent reviews collected directly after the course:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – “Great Course!”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – “Good & informative”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – “Very interesting”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – “Worthwhile and informative”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – “5 stars & shared on LinkedIn!”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – “Useful”