5 Basic Ladder Safety Rules you should follow

leggettandsonspainting.com

October 23, 2022

Basic ladder safety rules to follow to reduce and avoid falls, which are a leading cause of workplace fatalities.

1. Use the appropriate ladder for the job.

It is critical to select a ladder with the appropriate load capacity for the job. Take into account your own weight as well as the weight of your tools, equipment, and materials. The ladder must be long enough to allow you to work without using the top three feet.

2. Examine the ladder both before and after use.
Before using:
Following use:

You should examine the ladder’s stability.

 

Check that all screws, bolts, and hinges are tight and that the ladder’s base is secure.

Examine the rungs, steps, side rails, supports, and any other structural damage.

Examine the area for any dirt, grease, or paint that could lead to slips and falls.

Remove from service any ladders that have structural damage.

Your ladder should not be placed near any electrical wiring.

You should examine the ladder for any damage.

Examine the steps, side rails, rungs, and supports for any new structural damage.

Look for any bends as well as any loosened screws, hinges, or bolts.

Check the ladder’s stability once more.

3. Install the ladder correctly.
4. Use caution when climbing and descending the ladder.

Ladder placement is critical.

When using a portable ladder, ensure that it is on a level surface and has non-slip base pads.

In high traffic areas, use a barricade to protect the ladder’s base. Make sure any nearby doors that open toward you are locked or blocked.

Before using a stepladder, make sure it is completely open.

A straight ladder should be placed four-to-one, which means that the base should be one foot away from a wall or vertical surface for every four feet of height to the point of support. When using a ladder to climb onto a roof or platform, the ladder must extend at least 3 feet above the edge and be tied off at the top.

When climbing or descending, stay near the middle and face the ladder, holding onto the side rails with at least one hand. Carry your tools on a belt or hoist, and keep at least three limbs on the ladder at all times. Before handling or climbing a ladder, check for overhead power lines.

5. When using a ladder, use caution and common sense.

Leaning outside the ladder rails is not permitted.

Keep the area around the ladder and the ladder itself clean.

Never use a ladder for anything other than what it was designed for. Never use a ladder as a platform horizontally.

Carry no loads that prevent you from using at least one hand on the ladder.

Do not stand on the top step or the top cap of your ladder, and do not overload it.

A ladder should never be placed on boxes, barrels, or other unstable surfaces.

When a person or piece of equipment is on a ladder, do not move or shift it.

Take care when painting your home.  Call leggettandsonspainting “We Paint So You Don’t Have to”.  Keeping you safe from risk.

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