Only use a ladder on stairs if it is designed for it. Ordinary step ladders and extension ladders can't stand level on steps.
Which ladders work on stairs?
- 2 and 3 Section Stair Combination ladders and the 3 Way Combi Stair Ladder.
- Multi Purpose ladders, which have hinged sections you can set on different steps.
- BPS Stair Podium, with separately adjustable front and rear legs for a level platform.
- For high stairwells, the Stair Scaffold Tower.
See Combination, stair and multi-purpose ladders.
How to choose the right height
Measure vertically from the step where the ladder's feet will stand to the height you need to reach. Compare this with the ladder's free-standing height.
Steps
- Set the ladder up on the stairs following its instructions, with feet firmly on the treads, not the edges.
- Check the ladder is level and all hinges or locks are fully engaged before climbing.
- Fit the stabiliser bar if it has one. On stair combination ladders, remove the white protective bungs first.
- Keep the stairs clear, and make sure no one uses them while you're working.
Don't
- Prop ladder feet on books, boxes or blocks.
- Stand a ladder on a landing and lean it across the stairwell unless it is designed and secured for that.