Ladder Inspection Requirements in Canada — Pre-Use Checklist Guide

Ladders don't get the same attention as scaffolds or aerial lifts on most sites — but falls from ladders are one of the most common and most preventable construction injuries in Canada. Here's what a proper pre-use ladder inspection actually covers.

Why ladder inspections get skipped

Most crews treat the ladder as too simple to need a real check. It's not scaffolding, it's not an aerial lift — it's a ladder. That assumption is exactly why ladder-related falls remain common: the equipment is simple, but the failure points (a cracked rail, a worn foot, the wrong ladder for the height) are easy to miss without a deliberate check.

Two-part pre-use process

A proper ladder inspection happens in two stages, not one:

Before choosing a ladder — confirming it's the right type and rated capacity for the task, checking for visible damage before it even leaves the truck
Before climbing it — confirming it's set up correctly, on stable ground, at the right angle, and locked or secured as needed

Splitting the check this way catches problems at two different points, rather than relying on a single glance before someone starts climbing.

What each stage should confirm

Selection stage: condition of rails and rungs, rated duty capacity versus the worker's actual load (body weight plus tools and materials), and that the ladder type matches the job — a stepladder isn't a substitute for an extension ladder just because it's closer.

Setup stage: base on stable, level ground, correct climbing angle, feet locked or tied off where required, and — for extension ladders — proper overlap and secure locking of extension sections.

Why binary yes/no isn't enough

Not every "no" answer carries the same risk. A worn label is a minor issue; an unstable base is not. A proper digital ladder inspection should compute risk from the specific combination of answers — not just count how many boxes were checked.

Documentation that actually helps

A paper ladder tag, if it exists at all, usually just confirms someone glanced at the ladder that week. It doesn't confirm today's setup was checked, doesn't timestamp when the check happened, and doesn't tell a supervisor which specific ladders on site are flagged as higher risk right now. A digital record that's GPS-stamped and tied to the specific ladder, site, and worker closes that gap — and gives you something real to show if an incident does happen.