Ladders can be suitable for some low-risk tasks, but they need careful selection and use. This guide combines the available national falls data with HSE’s ladder guidance. The headline HSE accident-kind tables cover all falls from height; they do not provide a separate annual ladder-injury total.
Ladder accidents: an everyday height hazard
A ladder can move, a user can overreach, or a damaged component can fail. These risks occur in many workplaces, including maintenance, construction and cleaning. The controls must suit the specific task, ladder and surroundings.
Nationally, HSE recorded 31 fatal falls from height in 2025/26 and 4,684 reported non-fatal employee falls in 2024/25. These figures include many kinds of access equipment and work location; describing them as ladder accidents would overstate what the data shows.
Reviewed 15 October 2026. Great Britain all-falls data: fatalities 2025/26 provisional, non-fatal reports 2024/25 provisional, LFS annual averages 2022/23–2024/25. Ladder-specific guidance is separately labelled.
Key facts & figures
- 31 fatal falls from height across all work settings in 2025/26, Great Britain (provisional).
- 4,684 reported non-fatal employee falls from height in 2024/25, across all work settings (provisional).
- 35,000 workers injured in falls from height annually on average, 2022/23–2024/25 (LFS; all work settings).
- 249,000 days lost annually to falls from height, averaged over 2022/23–2024/25 (LFS; all work settings).
- 75° is HSE’s recommended leaning-ladder angle: one unit out for every four units up.
- Not banned ladders can be used where risk assessment shows they are suitable for the task.
When a ladder is suitable
Ladders are not banned at work. HSE says their use can be justified where the risk is low and the duration short, or where existing workplace features cannot be altered. Short duration alone is not enough: the risk assessment must first establish suitability.
As a guide, HSE recommends alternative equipment if the task requires staying on a leaning ladder or stepladder for more than 30 minutes at a time. A guarded platform may be needed for work that involves heavy materials, force or repeated reaching. A ladder is access equipment, not a fall-protection system.
Ladder hazards and controls
The following are practical hazards to check, not a statistical ranking of accident causes.
| Hazard | Control to consider |
|---|---|
| Ladder moves or slips | Secure both stiles to a suitable point; footing is a last resort after better securing options |
| Overreaching | Keep the body within the stiles and reposition the ladder |
| Damaged equipment | Complete a pre-use check and remove defective equipment from use |
| Unsuitable ground or resting point | Use a stable, level base and a strong upper support |
| Incorrect angle | Set a leaning ladder at about 75°, following the 1-in-4 rule |
| Wrong equipment for the task | Select a suitable platform or other access method where ladder use is not justified |
Legal requirements and competence
In Great Britain, ladder work falls under the Work at Height Regulations 2005. Planning, equipment selection, supervision and competence must match the task. Competence combines relevant knowledge, practical skills and experience; a person learning the task needs appropriate competent supervision.
Maintain a secure handhold and three points of contact while climbing. HSE’s stepladder guidance allows both hands to be free briefly in suitable circumstances, with the body supported and the task justified by risk assessment. This does not allow prolonged unsupported work, overreaching or heavy side loading.
For access to another level, HSE advises tying the ladder and extending it at least one metre above the landing point to provide a secure handhold. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and consider overhead electrical hazards, traffic and people nearby.
Ladder inspection: what to check
Carry out a pre-use check before use and after a relevant change, such as moving a ladder between dirty and clean ground. This is distinct from the regular detailed inspections required for equipment condition; the inspection arrangements should reflect use, risk and manufacturer guidance.
- Stiles and rungs: check for bending, damage, missing parts or loose fittings.
- Feet: check for damage, wear and contamination that could reduce grip.
- Locks and spreaders: confirm they are present, sound and properly engaged.
- Platforms and steps: check condition, fixings and cleanliness.
- Overall condition: look for defects or unsuitable repairs; do not use equipment whose safety is in doubt.
Remove a defective ladder from use and report it. Repairs, replacement and any return to service should follow suitable competent assessment and the manufacturer’s requirements.
Sources & references
- HSE — fatal injuries, 2025/26 provisional and revised earlier years (RIDFATAL)
- HSE — injuries by accident kind and industry, non-fatal data 2024/25 provisional (RIDKIND)
- HSE — self-reported injuries and working days lost by accident kind (LFSINJKND), 2022/23–2024/25 annual averages
- HSE — safe use of ladders and stepladders
- HSE — how and when to use a ladder at work
- HSE — ladder types and safe use
- HSE — securing ladders and ladders used for access
- HSE — checking a ladder before use
- HSE — inspecting ladder condition
- Work at Height Regulations 2005, Great Britain
Make sure everyone who uses a ladder knows how to do it safely.
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Mark writes about working at height, ladder and access safety, compliance and accredited training for Working at Heights Course, part of Online CPD Academy.