Templates / Ladder Inspection Log
Ladder Inspection Log
The Ladder Inspection Log is designed to be quick to complete and easy to adapt to your own workplace. Start from the template rather than a blank page, tailor the hazards, controls and responsibilities to your site, and keep a completed copy on file as evidence that the right checks were made.
An inspection log template for ladder condition checks.
A simple recurring log for inspecting ladders and stepladders before use and at set intervals.
About this template
Template document
A downloadable version of this template is being prepared. In the meantime the guidance below covers what the document needs to contain and the standards behind it.
How it links to the standards
The equipment and controls this template asks you to record are governed by published standards that define what each item must withstand and how it is tested. These are the ones that apply most directly:
- EN 131 — portable ladders
The full EN standards library covers every standard referenced across SafetyOrbit.
Related guidance
Filling the template in is easier when you know the reasoning behind each control. These notes cover the practical detail:
- Roofing and Work at Height — the full technique-note library for this kind of work
- Choosing a Ladder Class for Roof Access: EN 131 Explained
- Ladder Safety for Roof Access: The Three-Points-of-Contact Rule
Cracks, bent rungs and worn feet are checked before every use.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Ladder Inspection Log cover?
A recurring log for inspecting ladders and stepladders before use and at set intervals.
Why does a ladder need both a pre-use check and a periodic inspection?
A pre-use check catches damage that occurred since the last use, while a periodic, more thorough inspection catches gradual wear that a quick pre-use glance might miss.
What should a pre-use ladder check actually look for?
Cracks, bent or missing rungs, worn feet, and secure locking mechanisms are the kind of faults a pre-use check is meant to catch before the ladder is climbed.
What should happen to a ladder that fails inspection?
It should be taken out of service and clearly marked as such until repaired or replaced, not left available for someone else to use unknowingly.