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A ladder and stepladder inspection register for a site, a depot or a fleet of vans. Add each ladder with its ID, type, material and standard, run the HSE checks on stiles, feet, rungs, locks, platform and treads, photograph any defect and mark it pass or fail. A failed ladder records whether it was labelled for repair or destroyed, and a passed one gets its next detailed inspection date. Every question is listed below, and you can fill the live form in on this page.
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A ladder inspection checklist should check that the stiles are not bent or damaged, the feet are not missing, worn or damaged, the rungs are not bent, worn, missing or loose, locking mechanisms work, a stepladder platform is not split or buckled, and steps or treads are clean with tight fixings. A detailed inspection also records the ladder's ID, the date and the result, and HSE says detailed inspections should be recorded.
Last updated . Facts checked by the SiteSurvey team on 17 October 2026 against HSE: how to check your ladder is safe before you use it, HSE: inspecting the condition of ladders, HSE: how and when to use a ladder at work and HSE: product standards for ladders and stepladders.
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Want to see one filled in? See a completed ladder inspection report (PDF), made by SiteSurvey from a fictional site visit.
Walk Cam route · four guided clips
Give each ladder its own visual record. Film the whole asset, then show its feet, rails, rungs and locking parts so the responsible person can locate a concern.
Identify the ladder, manufacturer and site before filming. Record an overview, then visible condition at the feet, stiles, rungs and locking parts. Note anything obscured or needing a hands-on check.
Show the complete ladder from a safe position, with its asset reference recorded separately. Describe the type, storage location and any obvious damage.
The ladder is shown laid out on a bench with the full length in view.
Film each foot and the adjacent lower stile in close view. Look for wear, missing material or distortion without relying on video to prove grip.
Both lower ends are filmed closely; a possible worn foot needs a hands-on check.
Move along the accessible rails and rungs, keeping the affected location in context. Record visible dents, bends, cracks or loose-looking connections.
The camera passes along the side rails and rungs to document accessible visible condition.
Show visible catches, stays and label area without operating the ladder for the camera. Note anything hidden or unreadable.
The locking area and label position are shown; correct engagement was not tested.
A fictional six-page example with the four points, twelve stills from the clips, observations, follow-up actions and the limits of a visual record.
View the visual evidence (PDF) ↗ · Download the full sample report
This is an example visual evidence record. HSE distinguishes a user's pre-use check from a detailed visual inspection recorded by a competent person. Filming does not establish that the ladder is safe, replace the manufacturer's instructions or authorise use. Example footage was generated in Google Flow and the observations are scripted; no real site is shown. Walk Cam works inside any form in the app. How Walk Cam works · All visual inspections
A ladder and stepladder inspection register: pre-use and detailed inspections for each ladder with its ID, the HSE checks, defects with photos and a keep or remove result. 4 sections and 56 questions. Follow-up questions and guidance appear only when an answer calls for them, so the person on site never sees the ones that do not apply.
This is a starting point, not a fixed form. Once it is in your SiteSurvey account you can reword any question, add or remove questions, sections and answer options, and add your own logo, so it fits the way your team works and the jobs you do.
Add this form to a project in SiteSurvey and it fills in what the project already knows, so nobody on site retypes it and every form on the job uses the same names. Anything filled in can still be changed.
Optional. Scan the label or tag to capture its numbers.
Optional. Film the four guided points on the SiteSurvey app; each clip keeps its spoken note.
A completed ladder inspection report, made by SiteSurvey from a fictional site visit: every answer, the photos, the guidance that applied and the sign-off, ready to send as a PDF.
HSE separates the two. Pre-use checks, done by the person using the ladder, do not need to be recorded, but any problem should be reported to a manager. Detailed visual inspections are the employer's responsibility, should be carried out at fixed intervals by a competent person following the manufacturer's instructions, and should be recorded. The form handles both: choose the type of inspection at the start.
HSE says the person using the ladder should check it at the beginning of the working day, and again after something has changed, for example if the ladder has been dropped or moved from a dirty area to a clean one, when the feet need checking again.
HSE lists damaged or worn feet, twisted, bent or dented stiles, cracked, worn, bent or loose rungs, missing or damaged tie rods, and cracked or damaged welded joints, loose rivets or damaged stays. The form adds checks on locks and spreaders, extension ropes and pulleys, and whether the label with the standard and maximum load can still be read.
HSE says that if you spot a defect, do not use the ladder and tell the person in charge of the work. The form marks the ladder as failed and asks what happens to it: labelled do not use and taken out of service for repair, destroyed or disposed of, or returned to the supplier. It counts the ladders passed and failed on the visit.
HSE says BS 2037 and BS 1129 have been withdrawn, but ladders made to them before withdrawal may still be used, following the user instructions and guidance on safe use. HSE names EN 131 as the standard for portable steps and ladders. The form records which standard is on the label, and treats a missing or unreadable label as something to follow up.
HSE says that if a task would mean staying up a leaning ladder or stepladder for more than 30 minutes at a time, other equipment is recommended. The form asks about the job, and whether leaning ladders can be secured: tied, held by a stability device, wedged, or footed as a last resort.
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