For access at heights above 2 m above a stable surface (Legislative Decree 81/2008), there are four main options:
1. Scaffolding or Trestle
An excellent solution for maintenance work, but should be carefully evaluated based on the context (e.g., not suitable for private balconies or terraces due to load bearing and space limitations). High rental costs should also be considered.
Standard scaffolding (compliant with UNI EN 1004-1) can reach heights of up to 8 m outdoors and 12 m indoors. Compliance with the manufacturer's user manual and specific operator training are required, but a PIMUS is not required.
2. Fixed cage ladder
It should be noted that the cage does not prevent a fall, but merely limits the space available for a fall. Therefore, in more recent installations, Sicurpal recommends using vertical fall arrest systems wherever possible.
The use of a cage ladder must also be evaluated based on the context: in the presence of machinery, the applicable regulation is UNI EN 14122-4: compared to Legislative Decree 81/08 alone, it has more stringent technical requirements for the prevention of falls.
3. Fixed ladder with rigid vertical lifeline
Alternative and less bulky solution to the cage. Requires the mandatory use of a harness and guided-type fall arrest device (compliant with UNI EN 353-1 or UNI EN 353-2).
4. Portable leaning ladder
Legislative Decree 81/08 (Article 111) permits the use of a leaning ladder as access only in exceptional circumstances: when the risk is minimal, the duration of the work is short, or there are non-modifiable structural constraints. Let's analyze the three possible cases:
A (Landing height < 2 meters):
The leaning ladder up to 2 m can also be used without personal protection systems (harness + 353.2), paying attention to the support area : if access is on balconies or terraces, beyond 10 cm the parapet no longer protects and therefore case B applies.
As a good rule of thumb, the support area should be larger than the ladder itself, in case it falls or tips over. In this situation, it's always best to include ladder hooks, which reduce the risk of tipping backward or slipping sideways.
B (Landing height between 2 and 4 metres):
A leaning ladder up to 4 m can be used following the same instructions as in CASE A with the addition of a temporary vertical lifeline - rope with Asap (353.2) - which guarantees fall protection while climbing the ladder. Pay attention to the anchor point of the vertical lifeline, which must be certified according to the EN 795:2012 standard and have a load capacity of at least 900-1200 kg. Therefore, provide an anchor point that can be reached from the ground with a telescopic pole or use the top step of the ladder with the rung reinforcement and ladder hooks to reduce the risks described in CASE A.
C (Landing height between 4 and 6 metres):
A 4 to 6 m lean-to ladder is equivalent to case B, but access must be carefully considered. If it's installed from the side, with a safe walking surface and a factor 0 anchor, there are no issues to report; if installed from the gutter, however, it should be ruled out as too risky. All cases with a fall factor of type 2 are ruled out because there isn't the necessary clearance during the transition from ladder to roof.
