PUWER 1998 · Work equipment

Ladder and steps inspection under PUWER

Independent inspection of your ladders and steps as work equipment, against the PUWER duties, by a competent engineer surveyor.

A ladder is simple until a worn foot slips or a split stile gives way at height. Ladders and steps are work equipment under PUWER and the Work at Height Regulations, which ask for a daily pre-use check by the user and a recorded inspection by a competent person.

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  • Independent and impartial
  • Competent engineer surveyors
  • Reports issued promptly
Work at Height tooCovered by PUWER and the Work at Height Regulations
Two levelsA daily pre-use check and a recorded detailed inspection
A written recordA dated inspection record, not a certificate
Visual, not testedNo load testing or NDT for simple ladders
Work equipment we inspect

Why your ladders and steps needs PUWER inspection

Ladders and stepladders are work equipment used for short, low-risk tasks at height, and they fall under both PUWER and the Work at Height Regulations 2005, with HSE guidance in INDG455. The HSE asks for two levels of check: a pre-use check by the user at the start of the working day and after anything changes, and a detailed visual inspection carried out regularly by a competent person and recorded.

That recorded inspection is the part we provide. It is a visual examination against the points the HSE sets out, the stiles, feet, rungs, locking bars, platforms and treads, and not a load test. The HSE is clear that simple ladders need no load testing or non-destructive testing, so the job is to spot the obvious and the developing defects and withdraw anything that is no longer safe, with the failures recorded to inform how often you check.

Stiles
Feet
Rungs
Locking bars
Stepladder platform
Steps and treads
Class and marking
Withdrawn if defective
How it works

How we inspect your ladders and steps

A competent engineer surveyor goes over each ladder and step the way the HSE check points read: the stiles for bends and splits, the feet for wear and missing caps, the rungs for damage, the locking bars on a stepladder for full engagement, and the platform and treads. It is a visual inspection, recorded, with anything defective withdrawn rather than patched.

  • 1

    Get in touch

    Tell us how many ladders and steps you run, their types and where they are used.

  • 2

    On-site inspection

    A competent engineer surveyor inspects each ladder and step against the HSE check points, visually, and records the result.

  • 3

    Your record

    You receive a clear, dated inspection record, anything defective marked for withdrawal and the next date to plan around.

Why businesses choose SEIS

  • Independent and impartial: we inspect the ladders, we do not sell or hire them
  • Competent engineer surveyors used to access equipment and work at height
  • Inspection against the HSE check points, not a generic checklist
  • Clear records issued promptly, with the next due date flagged
What we check

Ladders and steps: what a thorough inspection covers

Stiles

The side rails of the ladder, examined for bends, splits and dents, because a damaged stile can buckle and collapse the ladder under load.

Feet

The feet that grip the floor, checked for wear, damage and contamination, since a missing or worn foot is a slip waiting to happen, especially moving onto a clean hard surface.

Rungs and steps

The rungs and treads for bends, looseness, missing fixings and contamination that make a foothold unsafe.

Locking bars

On a stepladder, the locking bars and spreaders that hold the legs open, checked for full engagement and for bent or worn parts, because a failed lock lets the steps fold.

Platform and top

The stepladder platform for splits and buckling, and the top and any fixings, so the working position stays stable.

Class, marking and condition

The duty rating and BS EN 131 or Class 1 marking suitable for work use, with overall condition, so a domestic stepladder is not being used on site.

Intervals and your record

How often, and what you receive

PUWER and the Work at Height Regulations set no fixed interval for a detailed ladder inspection, beyond a pre-use check by the user each working day. The frequency of the recorded inspection follows the risk and how hard the ladders are used, guided by the manufacturer's instructions and by what the failure records show. The HSE is clear that simple ladders need a visual inspection, not load testing or non-destructive testing, and that anything found defective should be withdrawn from use.

No fixed intervalFrequency set by risk and how the equipment is used
After assemblyRe-inspected where safe use depends on correct assembly or relocation
A written recordA dated inspection record, not a statutory certificate
Where it liftsAny powered lifting function is examined under LOLER

Anyone selling a PUWER certificate is using a marketing word, not a legal one. We issue a clear, dated inspection record you can hand to an HSE inspector or your insurer.

The price follows your equipment, not a rate card: see what drives a PUWER inspection quote.

Full statutory cover

Part of our full PUWER inspection service

Ladders and steps is one of the many kinds of equipment we cover. We inspect the full range, across every sector, as an independent provider, one item or a whole site, anywhere in the UK.

See our full PUWER inspection service
Other services

Other statutory inspections we carry out

Many sites run more than one regime. We can examine all of it, under one independent provider.

LOLER inspectionThorough examination and certification of lifting equipment and accessories. PSSR examinationWritten Schemes and certified examination of pressure systems. LEV testingLEV thorough examination and test of your extraction systems.
PUWER FAQs

Ladders and steps inspection: common questions

Do ladders and steps need a PUWER inspection?
Yes. Ladders and stepladders are work equipment, so they fall under PUWER, and also under the Work at Height Regulations 2005. They must be suitable, kept in good condition and inspected, with a daily pre-use check by the user. The general duty is set out in the HSE guidance on PUWER.
Is it a PUWER certificate or a record?
A record. PUWER produces a written inspection record, not a statutory certificate, kept at least until the next inspection. There is no such thing as a PUWER certificate. We issue a clear, dated record you can hand to an HSE inspector or your insurer, and our guide to PUWER explains the difference.
What is the difference between a pre-use check and an inspection?
A pre-use check is a quick visual look by the user at the start of the day and after any change, such as the ladder being dropped or moved to a clean surface. A detailed inspection is a more thorough visual examination by a competent person, carried out regularly and recorded. We provide the recorded inspection.
Do you load test or carry out NDT on ladders?
No, and the HSE does not expect it for simple ladders and steps. The inspection is a visual examination for obvious and developing defects against the HSE check points. Ladders are inexpensive, and the HSE is clear that the answer to a defect is withdrawal, not testing every ladder to destruction.
What does the inspection cover?
The stiles, the feet, the rungs and treads, the locking bars and spreaders on a stepladder, the platform, and the class, marking and overall condition. Anything found defective is marked for withdrawal rather than left in service.
Who is competent to inspect ladders?
PUWER requires a competent person, someone with the knowledge and experience to know what to look at, what to look for and what to do about anything found. Our engineer surveyors inspect access equipment and work-at-height equipment regularly.
Should domestic stepladders be used at work?
No. The HSE recommends Class 1 Industrial or BS EN 131 ladders and steps for work use, not lighter domestic ones. We check the duty rating and marking as part of the inspection and flag any ladder that is not suitable for the job.
Do you inspect ladders and steps across the UK?
Yes. Our engineer surveyors travel to sites and premises nationwide, a handful of ladders or a whole register. Call 0330 043 8191 to arrange a visit around your operation.

Is your ladders and steps due a PUWER inspection?

Talk to an engineer surveyor, get a quote and book your inspection anywhere in the UK.

0330 043 8191 Request a quote