Ladders - General user information

ISO 3864-1 see DIN 4844-1 

Our library ladders/ladder systems Scala (single ladder, extension ladder (with and without telescopic version), suspended ladder) according to the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN/CENELEC) Rules of Procedure, the national standards institutes of the following countries are required to adopt this European standard at :
 Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.EN 131-3:2007 (D): 

1. Scope

This European Standard provides guidance for the safe use of ladders, falling within the scope of EN 131-1 and complying with the requirements of EN 131-1, EN 131-2 and, in the case of single or multi-articulated ladders used as stepladders or extension ladders , EN 131-4. Please note the following before using the ladder:
EN 131-3:2007 (D)

2. Before using the ladder

a) Are you in good health to use the ladder? Certain health conditions, medication use, alcohol or
drug abuse may cause a risk to safety when using the ladder.
b) When transporting ladders on roof racks or in a truck to prevent damage, ensure that they are secured/attached in an appropriate manner .
c) Inspect the ladder after delivery and before first use to determine the condition and function of all parts.
d) Visually inspect the ladder for damage and safe use at the beginning of each working day that the ladder is required to be used.
e) For professional users, periodic inspection is required.
f) Ensure that the ladder is suitable for the particular use.
g) Do not use a damaged ladder.
h) Remove all contamination from the ladder, e.g. wet paint, dirt, oil or snow.
i) Before using a ladder at work, a risk assessment should be carried out taking into account the legislation in the country of use .

3. Positioning and setting up the ladder:

a) The ladder must be set up in the correct set-up position, e.g. correct set-up angle for extension ladder/leaning ladders (angle of inclination approx. 1:4), rungs or treads horizontal and fully open for a stepladder.
b) Locking devices, if fitted, must be fully secured before use.
c) The ladder must stand on a level, horizontal and immovable surface .
d) An extension ladder/ladder should be leaned against a flat, solid surface and secured before use, e.g. by fixing or using a suitable device to ensure stability.
e) The ladder must never be repositioned from above.
f) When the ladder is repositioned, attention must be paid to the risk of collision e.g. with pedestrians, vehicles or doors. Lock doors (but not emergency exits) and windows in the work area, if possible.
g) Identify any risks posed by electrical equipment in the work area e.g. overhead power lines or other exposed electrical equipment.
h) The ladder must be placed on its feet, not on the rungs or steps. Steps.
i) Ladders must not be placed on slippery surfaces (e.g. ice, bare surfaces or clearly contaminated solid surfaces) unless additional measures are taken to prevent the ladder from slipping or to ensure that the contaminated areas are sufficiently clean.

4. Use of the ladder:

a) Do not exceed the maximum payload of 150kg for the particular type of ladder.
b) Do not lean out too far; users should keep their belt buckle (the navel) between the stiles and stand with both feet on the same step/rung .
c) Do not climb off a stepladder/leaning ladder at a greater height without additional securing, e.g. fastening or using a
suitable device to secure stability.
d) Do not use stepladders to climb to another level.
e) Do not use the top three steps/rungs of a single ladder as a standing surface.
f) Do not use the top two steps/rungs of a stepladder without a platform and hand/knee restraint as a standing surface.
g) Do not use the top four steps/rungs of a stepladder with attached extension ladder as a standing surface.
h) Ladders should only be used for light work of short duration.
i) Use non-conductive ladders for unavoidable live work.
j) Do not use the ladder outdoors in adverse weather conditions, e.g. strong wind, 
k) Take precautions to prevent children from playing on the ladder.
l) Lock doors (but not emergency exits) and windows in the work area, if possible.
m) Ascend and descend facing the ladder.
n) Hold on tight to the ladder when ascending and descending.
o) Do not use the ladder as a bridging device.
p) Wear suitable footwear when climbing the ladder.
q) Avoid excessive lateral loads, e.g. when drilling into masonry and concrete.
R) Do not remain on the ladder for too long without regular breaks (fatigue is a hazard).
s) Extension ladders/leaning ladders for access to a greater height should be extended at least 1 m beyond the point of attachment.
t) Objects carried when climbing a ladder should not be heavy and should be easy to handle.
u) Avoid work that causes lateral loading on stepladders, e.g. lateral drilling through solid materials (e.g. masonry or concrete).
v) When working on a ladder, hold on with one hand or, if this is not possible, take additional safety precautions.

5. Repair, maintenance and storage:

Repairs and maintenance of the ladder must be carried out by a competent person and in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Ladders should be stored in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions 
The following list, which is not exhaustive, gives typical hazards and examples of common causes of accidents when using ladders, which have been used as a basis for drawing up the user information in this standard :

Causes of accidents:

A) Loss of stability:
1) Incorrect position of the ladder (e.g. incorrect set-up angle for
extension ladders/leaning ladders or failure to open stepladders fully)
2) Slipping away outwards at the lower end of the ladder (e.g. the ladder is not fully opened).(e.g. the lower end of the ladder
slipping away from the wall)
3) Slipping sideways, falling away to the side and tipping of the uppermost
step (e.g. by leaning out too far). (e.g. due to leaning out too far or insufficient grip on the
top step)
4) Condition of the ladder (lack of anti-slip feet)
5) Stepping off an unsecured ladder at height
6) Condition of the floor (e.g. unstable, soft ground, sloping ground,
slippery surfaces or contaminated solid surfaces)
7) Adverse weather conditions (e.g. wind)
8) Impact with the ladder (e.g. vehicle, door)
9) Incorrect choice of ladder (e.g. ladder too short, unsuitable use).

B) Handling:
1) Raising the ladder to the position of use
2) Setting up and dismantling the ladder
3) Carrying objects when climbing the ladder

C) Slipping, tripping or falling by users:
1) Unsuitable footwear
2) Contaminated rungs or steps
3) Reckless behaviour by the user (e.g. taking 2 steps at the same time,
sliding down the stiles)

D) Failure of ladder construction:
1) Condition of ladder (e.g. damaged stiles, wear)
2) Overloading of ladder

E) Electrical hazards:
1) Unavoidable live work (e.g. troubleshooting)
2) Placing the ladder in the direct vicinity of electrical equipment under
voltage (e.g. High voltage overhead lines)
3) Damage to electrical equipment by conductors (e.g. covers
or protective insulation)
4) Incorrect selection of conductor type for electrical work

Only for single ladder:

Do not use the top three rungs of an extension ladder/leaning ladder as a standing surface ! Usable rungs or steps:
Every ladder intended for use as a single/lean ladder must be marked with the indication that the top three rungs must not be used as a standing surface .

NOTE 1: The marking may be affixed to the ladder stile or preferably to the first rung or tread
not to be used as a standing surface. Every ladder intended for use as a stepladder shall bear a marking
indicating the rungs or treads not to be used as a standing surface.

NOTE 2: EU Directive 2001/45/EC includes the requirement that users must be able to hold on securely at all times and stand safely at all times
. The manufacturer must specify the items to be tested together with the assessment criteria. Details of the checklist must be included in the
user information or marked on the ladder. The user informationcan also be provided on the manufacturer's website www.abp-beyerle.de .

As a minimum, the following instructions shall be provided as user information with the ladder :
- Month and year of manufacture and/or serial number
- Maximum payload: 150 kg
- Weight of ladder=8 - 10 kg
- Maximum number of users allowed on ladder: 1 person