Posted By C.J.
It depends how high the fixed ladder is. If it was short i.e 6m i would say no. If the ladder, or ladders, are e.g. 30m long then i would say yes.

Posted By CJP
Not so much the length of the ladder that is the issue here but the distance a person could fall (not necessarily the same). In my experience the accepted height is 2 metres - more than that a fall arrest system should be used.

Posted By Dave Merchant
There's an article on fixed ladders in the HSW magazine archives, also available online. I could suggest Googling for it...

Broadly the answer is "it depends who you ask". The law contradicts itself, so an inspector/magistrate could rule either way, and have done many times.

Posted By steve e ashton
BS4211 2005 gives the accepted standards for fixed vertical ladders.

Whilst the BS was issued before the Work at Height Regs, it still provides valid (and semi-authoritative) standards for those situations where such access is deemed acceptable following risk assessment and consideration of alternatives.

Steve

Posted By Dave Merchant
"Until today I considered the WAH regs to be modern and common-sensed in their approach"

That'd be a document written by a committee of civil servants, who were trying to re-interpret an EU document written by an even larger committee, very few of whom have ever seen a ladder. "Common sense" and "logical" are rude words to such people, which is why we have to rely on case law.

Unfortunately, the HSE has never prosecuted anyone under these particular paragraphs of WAHR, and in the few cases where ladders are vaguely mentioned it's at magistrate level (hence have no ability to set judicial precedent), so the official legal position remains, to quote Lisa Simpson, "Meh. M E H. Meh."

Posted By Ron Hunter
micklecats,this requirement to prevent falls/apply the hierarchy is subject to the test of reasonable practicability (Regulation 6). As others have said, this has yet to be tested in law.
If as you say this is a fixed vertical ladder of some 9 metres, one could argue the relative risk with the same travel distance for a leaning ladder also used only as a means of access/egress from ground level. No-one would seriously suggest fall arrest in that circumstance.
Horses for courses though - all bets are off if this fixed ladder is attached to the radio mast at the top of the 100-storey skyscraper!
There is also a BS which specifies the starting height and intervals for 'hoops' on fixed vertical ladders (the reference escapes me) - these hoops could prove a bit of a nuisance if you intended to install a running line system.

Posted By kaggs
The ISO Standard is ISO 14122-4:2004 and gives recommended intervals of 6m between platforms or single flight at 10m. Also gives details on fall arrest equipment - when height of ladder is in excess of 3m then you should look at fal protection with safety cage first choice followed by a fall arrester only for low and infrequent use specialised access i.e.e maintenance.

This standard gives decent guidance.

Regards

Posted By Ron Hunter
Dave, a fixed ladder complying with the standard being discussed will have hoops for that very purpose - thus not "do or die", but I do see your point. As an example, there are some I've seen at quay sides and harbours though without hoops and which also stop short of the landing surface - now there's a challenge at low tide (been there done that)!