Decide when a workplace needs a platform
Use this briefing for a stockroom, shop floor or maintenance site before assigning work at height.
Open full-size diagram ↗Separate the work area from traffic
- Traffic aisle. Identify where vehicles and pedestrians travel before setting up.
- Barrier. Arrange suitable separation for the actual site. If traffic can enter the work area, stop and revise the plan.
- Work area. A competent person should select equipment for the task, including a suitable guarded platform where needed.
Ask if the work can be done at ground level
For a warehouse stock check, first consider relocating the item or reading its label from the floor. If height access is necessary, assess the load, duration, reach and forces involved.
Choose equipment for the whole job
Lifting a bulky carton down a ladder ties up both hands. Sideways drilling can push a ladder over. Have a competent person select access and material-handling equipment, such as a suitable guarded platform, for these tasks.
Protect people using the area
Consider forklifts, doors, floor openings and people below. Arrange barriers or temporary segregation before setting up. A worker holding a ladder cannot protect it from a moving forklift.
Brief the team before work starts
Identify who will set up and inspect the equipment, how tools will be moved and how help will reach the worker. Trainees need appropriate supervision. Reassess if traffic, the floor or the job changes.