Question?
Would you jump out of a plane before you learned how to sky dive?
Answer?
Never!
I didn’t think so. Before falling through space you would want to be certain you knew how to handle a parachute, wouldn’t you?
Yet every day thousands of people risk falling through space in what could be a fatal accident when they ignore ladder safety rules.
What are the statistics?
This year more than 30,000 people will be disabled by falls involving ladders. Most of these accidents will occur because the victims do not know ladder safety basics.
Most ladder accidents could be avoided if two basic rules are followed:
- Make certain the ladder is secured against movement.
- Make sure the ladder is placed at the proper angle.
The more a ladder is secured, the more it assumes the stability of a stairway. Obviously, when a ladder is placed on a level and firm surface and is held at the bottom and tied at the top, it becomes a more dependable stairway.
A ladder placed at the proper angle best supports the user. A ladder that is too vertical can topple backward, and one that is too horizontal can fall under the weight of the user. Those who do not like angles (75°) or ratios (4 to 1) as a guide might prefer to use the fire fighters rule of thumb:
- Stand erect with your toes at the ladder feet.
- As you hold the ladder by the side rails with your arms extended horizontally, the ladder will be approximately the right angle.
To keep from becoming a ladder fall victim, here five guidelines to follow.
1. Select the right ladder for the job.
a) Make certain the ladder is strong enough for its intended use.
b) Choose a ladder that is long enough so you can work comfortably.
c) Avoid metal ladders when there is a chance of contact with a source of electrical current. Remember, metal is a conductor!
2. Inspect the ladder before use.
a) Look for loose or damaged rungs, steps, rails or braces.
b) Repair or replace loose or missing screws, hinges, bolts, nuts or other hardware.
c) Make certain stepladder spreaders can be locked in place.
d) Be sure that straight ladders have safety feet.
e) Never use a defective ladder.
3. Set up your ladder with care.
a) Lock or block any nearby door that opens towards you.
b) Keep the area around the ladder base uncluttered.
c) Avoid tilting by setting your ladder base on a solid, level surface.
d) When you use a stepladder, make sure it is fully opened and its spreader is locked.
e) Position a straight ladder at a four-to-one ratio. That means the base of your ladder is one foot away from the vertical surface for every four feet of the ladder’s length to the support point. Remember the fire fighter’s rule of thumb.
f) When you use a ladder to climb onto a roof or platform, allow it to extend at least three feet beyond the roof edge or other support point.
g) To avoid shifting, tie down straight ladder as close to the support point as possible.
h) Never lean a ladder against an unstable surface.
4. Climb and descend ladders cautiously.
a) Face the ladder and hold on to it with both hands.
b) If you need tools, carry them in a tool belt or raise and lower them with a hand line.
c) Do not take the chance of slipping. Check ladder rungs and the bottoms of your shoes for slippery substances.
5. Use your common sense when you work on ladders.
a) Always hold on with at least one hand. Never reach or lean too far to either side.
b) Do not climb higher that the second tread from the top of the stepladder and the third rung from the top of a straight ladder.