Portable Ladders

Portable Ladders

Ladders are useful tools, but if you do not follow the proper safety tips, you could hurt yourself. In fact, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 547,000 people were treated in hospital emergency rooms, doctors' offices, clinics, and other medical settings in 2007 because of injuries related to ladder use. Most injuries are cuts, bruises, and fractured bones.

Did you know that even a six-foot fall from a ladder can kill you?

More often, you might break an arm or leg. When you fall off a ladder on a construction site, you can land on almost anything, so internal injuries are common. Falls from ladders happen because you slip or because the ladder slips. If you’re in a hurry, there’s a greater chance of falling. Take the time to use the right ladder the right way.

To reduce your chance of injury, follow the safety information listed below:

1. Ladder Slipping Hazards

More than half of all ladder accidents happen because the ladder slips.
What are there any ways to keep a ladder from slipping?

■ Place the ladder on a firm, level surface that isn’t slippery
■ Use a ladder with safety feet, especially if you’re setting it on a smooth floor
■ Always secure a portable ladder. Nail it to a permanent structure, tie it off, or block it
■ Make sure the ladder’s supports (feet and upper risers) are free of grease and mud
■ If the ladder is leaning against a smooth surface, have wall grips on the risers to prevent side slipping
■ Make sure the ladder is leaning against something secure (not a gutter, window sash, window pane, or anything that can move)
■ Don’t set a ladder on top of boxes or other movable objects
■ Never use a ladder in high winds
■ Barricade a ladder if it’s in an area where it could get bumped
■ Don’t use a ladder in front of a door that might open unless there is a barricade or guard
■ Make sure your ladder is at the correct angle—not too steep and not too horizontal

2. Correct Ladder Angle

What’s the correct angle for a ladder?

■ Set it one foot out for every four feet of ladder length

3. Preventing Slips While Climbing

Nearly a third of all ladder accidents happen because a person slips.
What are some things you can do to keep yourself from slipping?

■ Use a ladder with non-skid treads (or a non-skid coating) on the rungs
■ Make sure the rungs are free of mud, grease, and other slippery material
■ Make sure your shoes are free of mud and grease
■ Don’t lean too far out—never beyond arm’s length
■ When going up or down a ladder, always:
 ■ Face the ladder
 ■ Use both hands
■ Don’t try to adjust an extension ladder when you’re standing on a surface above it
■ Don’t stand or work on the top three rungs of a straight ladder unless you’re using a safety belt
■ Don’t step on any rung above a ladder’s upper support
■ Don’t stand or work at the top of a stepladder
■ Make sure a stepladder is fully open and locked before use

4. Carrying Tools or Materials on a Ladder

How should you carry tools or materials up or down a ladder?

■ Use a tool belt to keep your hands free
■ Pull equipment and materials up with a line

5. Ladder Inspection

To make sure your ladder is in good repair, you should inspect it before and after each job.
When you inspect a ladder, what should you look for?

■ All rungs are securely connected to the side rails
■ No rungs or side rails are missing, loose, broken, cracked, or corroded
■ No nails, screws, or rivets are sheared off or missing
■ No splinters are present

6. Defective Ladders

What if a ladder is defective?

■ Report an unsafe ladder immediately
■ Employers should remove defective ladders from service and tag them
■ Some employers destroy defective ladders to ensure no one uses them

7. Choosing the Right Ladder

People say to “use the right ladder for the job.”
What are some things to keep in mind?

■ Use a ladder that is safety-approved and meets ANSI requirements
■ Use a ladder of the correct length
■ Side rails should extend at least three feet but not more than four feet above the upper support
■ Use a ladder strong enough for you and the job
■ Never splice two ladders together
■ Do not allow more than one person on a ladder unless it is designed for that purpose
■ Do not use metal ladders near live electrical parts or within six feet of high-voltage lines
■ Remember electricity can arc—metal ladders should have warning labels
■ Use ladders only for their intended purpose
■ Do not use ladders as braces, skids, walkways, or scaffolds

Need more information on safety in the workplace?
As a reader of our magazine, we will answer any OSHA-related questions that you may have. Please feel free to write me or call me at 612-801-1032, and say you read this article in the magazine — we will help you.