Ladder Safety Awareness

Injuries in the workplace because of ladder are commonplace. Falls from ladders can be as painful as a fall from a roof; about a third of all reported falls are falls from ladders. Many of the fall related injuries result from the improper use or the use of a defective ladder. Step/extension ladders are made to access/egress upper levels, not to be used as work platforms. There are specifically designed ladders for use as work platforms such as order pickers. These ladders are constructed with a small platform and guardrail. The following safe work rules should be observed when working with ladders.

Inspection

• Look for missing or loose cleats at the bottom.
• Look for loose or missing screws, bolts or nails on job made ladders
• Look for cracked, broken, split, dented or badly worn rungs, cleats or side rails.
• Splinters on wood ladders.
• Corrosion on metal ladders.

Ladder Use

• Always use the right ladder for the right job.
• Don’t set your ladder in a walkway or door opening.
• Keep the area at the top and bottom of the ladder clear of tool cords, tools, material and garbage.
• Always set the ladder on solid footing.
• Use a twenty-five percent (4:1)  angle on the slope of the ladder.
• When using extension ladders, the three (3) top rungs must extend beyond the landing platform. (Or the top of an extension ladder must be 36” (3 feet) above the landing.
• Don’t lean to the side when on a ladder or you may tip over.
• Do not carry tools or materials on a ladder. Use both hands when climbing a ladder to grab onto the side rails. If it is necessary to move material or tools up a ladder, first climb up, then pull up the work with a hand line.
• Only one person on a ladder at a time (unless the ladder is double cleated).
• Always secure the top of the ladder to prevent it from sliding.
• Never lean a step ladder; always fully open a step ladder.
• Always face the ladder.