Can You Use a Ladder on a Scaffold?

We strongly recommend you do not use a ladder on a scaffold. Read on to find out why.

How Safe Is It to Use a Ladder on a Scaffold?

Scaffold towers allow you to work at height for longer than if you were using a ladder. Scaffolding is also designed to access heights that are unsafe for a single ladder.

It follows that if the top platform of a scaffold tower doesn’t quite let you reach your work site, you might want to place a freestanding ladder on that platform to help. We strongly advise that you don’t do this.

A scaffold tower is stable on its own, and the work platforms provide space to work freely. Putting a ladder on a work platform is very unsafe. Ladders are designed to be placed on solid ground, so using one on a scaffold tower is incredibly unsafe. A work platform may well be too narrow to support a ladder, and you risk falling from a much greater height if the ladder slips or wobbles.

What Is a Scaffolding Ladder?

Using a ladder on a scaffold tower is very different from using scaffolding ladders. Our scaffold towers come with integrated ladders as part of the structure. These are clamped in place, or integrated into the tower itself, allowing access to the work platform.

They are not freestanding ladders that might be lifted up and placed on the work platform. This is an unsafe practice.

If you have any questions about the safe use of ladders, feel free to get in touch.

Scaffold Towers