Ladder Safety: Here’s What You Need to Know
I know that ladder safety is not the sexiest topic in the world, but because so many emergency room visits are connected to the simple use of a ladder, I felt compelled to write about it.
Unfortunately, an acquaintance of mine fell from his ladder while hastily putting up his Christmas decorations, which also prompted me to write
today’s blog.
Except for his pride, he did not sustain any serious injury despite being relatively high up.
If you are anything like me, and I am sure we share the same complacencies, we may not be aware of or we take for granted the dangers associated with the use of ladders. Yet, according to a NACHI.org posting, the World Health Organization reported the following statistical data for ladder injury:
- The United States leads the world in ladder deaths.
- Each year, more than 164,000 emergency room-treated injuries and 300 deaths in the U.S. are caused by falls from ladders.
- Most ladder deaths are from falls of 10 feet or less.
- Falls from ladders are the leading cause of death on construction sites.
- Over the past decade, the number of people who have died from falls from ladders has tripled.
- Falls from ladders are the leading cause of ladder-related injuries, followed by misusing a ladder, faulty or defective ladders, and simple carelessness (Gromicko & Shepard, N.D).
Homeowners rarely have any safety training in ladder usage. However, OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) requires ladder safety training for all employees who use ladders during the course of
employment. If workers need this training, why wouldn’t a homeowner want the same knowledge?
If you do not want to be a victim of poor ladder safety, then you need to understand the types of ladders available, know which ladder is best for the specific task at hand, and then you can begin to follow the best safety practices for each class.
Ladders fall into the following categories; standard step ladders, straight or single ladders, extension ladders, articulating ladders, tripod ladders, and telescoping ladders.
Selecting the right ladder for the job is one of the most critical decisions when maintaining ladder safety. For simplicity, I will show only two styles of ladders most commonly used by homeowners; the standard folding
step ladder and the extension ladder. Here are the common parts of those ladders:
When using a ladder, read and understand the owner’s information associated with that type of ladder. Also, familiarize yourself with the moving parts and the safety recommendations by the manufacturer.
One of the most important considerations for any ladder use is the load rating. Not all ladders are created equally. Some are light or medium duty while others are made for heavy-duty jobs. Adhering to the load rating is critical for preventing ladder failure and severe injury.
Other considerations from the OSHA quick card include:
- Avoid electrical hazards. Look for overhead power lines before placing a ladder.
- Inspect the ladder prior to using it.
- Be sure to engage all locks and pins when using an extension ladder or articulating ladders.
- Always maintain a 3-point (two hands and a foot, or two feet and a hand) contact on the ladder when climbing.
- Keep your body near the middle of the step and always face the ladder while climbing.
- Do not use a self-supporting ladder (e.g., a step ladder) as a single ladder or in a partially closed position.
- Do not use the top step/rung of a ladder as a step/rung unless it was designed for that purpose.
- Use a ladder only on a stable and level surface unless it has been secured (top or bottom) to prevent displacement.
- Do not use a ladder on boxes, barrels, or unstable bases to obtain additional height.
- Do not move or shift a ladder while a person or equipment is on the ladder.
- An extension or straight ladder used to access an elevated surface must extend at least 3 feet above the point of support.
- Do not stand on the three top rungs of a straight, single, or extension ladder.
- The proper angle for setting up a ladder is to place its base a quarter of the working length of the ladder from the wall or other vertical surface (OSHA Portable Ladder Safety QUICKCARD™, N.D)
One last consideration I want to offer is when working with ladders on sloped areas. Extension ladders work on angles, contact points, and downward pressure to keep the ladder from sliding out from under you.
Tying off a ladder at the top point of contact, i.e., anchoring or rope connection to your brace point, can keep the ladder from sliding out from under or being pushed out and away from the top contact point.
For the leg contact with the ground, you can have a person brace and hold the legs firmly in place, or you can put anchors in the ground
to prevent the ladder legs from sliding.
Whatever method you use to secure your ladders, do so safely. Make sure you follow accepted safety practices and use the ladder as the manufacturer intended.
My acquaintance was lucky that he did not sustain a life-changing injury.
So, from us to you, Boss Security Screens wants everyone to have a safe and happy Christmas season. After all, safety is our business.
Until next time, be safe and remain vigilant!
Written by,
Michael Johnston
Chief Security Advisor at Boss Security Screens
*The author is a paid consultant and product representative for Boss Security Screens. The information provided in this blog does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials are the author’s opinion and for general informational purposes only. It is recommended that you consult an attorney, certified trainers, or licensed providers before acting on any information provided. This website may link to other third-party websites. Such links are for the convenience of the reader and are not endorsed by the author.
References
Gromicko, N. & Shepard, K. (n.d.). Ladder safety. InterNACHI®. Retrieved December 10, 2022, from https://www.nachi.org/ladder-safety.htm
OSHA Portable Ladder Safety QUICKCARD™. (n.d.). Retrieved December 10, 2022, from https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/portable_ladder_qc.pdf
Photos obtained from Figure 1: Gromicko, N. & Shepard, K. (n.d.). Ladder safety. InterNACHI®. Retrieved December 10, 2022, from https://www.nachi.org/ladder-safety.htm
Figure 2: Gromicko, N. & Shepard, K. (n.d.). Ladder safety. InterNACHI®. Retrieved December 10, 2022, from https://www.nachi.org/ladder-safety.htm
