It's important to understand the difference between these two types of checks. Both are required, but they serve different purposes.
A pre-use check is a brief visual inspection carried out by the user before every single use. It takes a minute or two and looks for obvious defects: damaged rungs, bent stiles, missing feet, or anything that could cause a failure during use. These checks should become routine habit for anyone using a ladder.
A formal periodic inspection is a more thorough, recorded examination carried out by a competent person at regular intervals. This is what the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and PUWER primarily require you to document.
There is no single legally required frequency, inspections must be "regular" and proportionate to risk. Industry best practice and HSE guidance suggest the following:
| Usage Level | Inspection Frequency | Example Scenarios |
|---|---|---|
| Light use | Every 6–12 months | Occasional office access, stockroom use |
| Moderate use | Every 3–6 months | Regular trade use, periodic maintenance tasks |
| Heavy or demanding use | Monthly or even weekly | Construction sites, daily industrial use, exposure to weather |
| After any incident | Immediately | Drop, impact, suspected damage |
Key point: These are minimums. If your ladder shows signs of wear, stop using it immediately, regardless of when it was last inspected.
Even if your regular cycle hasn't arrived, you must inspect a ladder after:
When you record a formal inspection in Remind The Step, the following information is captured:
This gives you a full audit trail that satisfies the requirements of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and PUWER, and can be shared with the HSE or your insurer at any time.