Today I want to write to you about ladder safety both from a home owner's and contractor's perspective.
Ladders can be a wonderful thing. They can also be dangerous and deadly. First off you want to make sure you have the right ladder for the job.
There are three types of ladders commonly used. The first is a step ladder. This is the ladder that is used mostly by homeowners. They range from a step stool all the way to 16' or so. While they do make step ladders taller than this, again we are talking mainstream use. Step ladders are fairly safe compared to the other types, but are not accident free by any means. In fact you can break your leg or arm from just three feet if you fall just the right way. One of the big problems with step ladders is that you can take your safety for granted. You think to yourself I can just jump off six feet if I start to fall. That might not be the case if your momentum takes you away or your reaction time is not quick enough. You do not want to climb the top two steps for any reason as you may lose your balance. Another major problem with step ladders is they usually fold up, and if you don't have the bars extended all the way out then this creates a tilt effect. Remember just like pinball; no tilting! The platform stand that you place objects on is very useful, just not for your feet. Speaking of feet always wear non-slip shoes when climbing a step ladder as socks can be slippery.
The second ladder I will discuss is called an extension ladder which are mainly utilized by contractors and used outdoors. These range from 16' to 60'. Yikes! When determining what size extension ladder to use for the job you want to factor in more than height alone. You also want to find out what duty rating you will need. There is Type 1 thru Type III and for the big boys Type IA and Type IAA. These types are for weight limit guidelines and include your body weight plus the weight of all your tools, and anything on your person. Type II for instance is rated at 225lbs. If you weighed 215 and had 5lbs worth of tools you would have a sufficient ladder for the job. However if you had a tool belt that weighed 8lbs than you would be over the limit. When carrying an extension ladder always look out and overhead for power lines, people, cars, plants, pets, pet byproducts (safe but messy) and other objects. Power lines are a major hazard. Just because you have a fiberglass ladder does not exempt you from this danger. If you were to hit it hard enough the line could break and fall on you. You always want to have a firm non-slick surface to set your extension ladder on. Don't place the ladder on gravel, oily surface, mossy deck, uneven ground or other potentially dangerous surface. If you do need to use your extension ladder on a sloped surface than an investment in a set of ladder stabilizers will come in handy. Next I want to talk about the 4-1 rule. For every 4' you have your ladder extended you want to make sure you have it 1' out from the building. For instance lets say you needed to climb 20' to clean a window, then you would want the ladder 5' from the wall. If you need to set the ladder up above the roof line then you always want the ladder at least 3' above it. Wind can also play a major role in the safety of your extension ladder and the higher the ladder the more wind speed can wreak havoc. Winds above 15mph can pull the ladder right out of your hands or blow over an unattended ladder. Gusts in the 25-30mph could potentially blow you right off your extension ladder. The other safety measure you want to follow is the 3-1 rule. That is 3 points of contact on the ladder at all times. So if you had both feet and "look ma no hands", that is a violation of this rule. It may be stylish for your bicycle but style and safety don't mix on a ladder. The final thing I want to cover on extension ladder safety is any ladder above 32' you will want a helper to carry it and set it up. A footer is also a good idea to help hold the ladder in place at the bottom.
The final ladder I want to briefly talk about today is a combination ladder. This multifunctional ladder can be used as a step ladder but also will transform into an extension ladder. You should follow the above rules with these exceptions. When changing the ladder from extension be careful not to pinch your fingers on the hinge and make certain that the ladder mechanisms are locked and secure. These ladders tend to be more slick on the bottom since rubber feet are used.
If taking the time to write this post saves one person from a fall or injury than it is well worth it. As a window cleaner of 12 years I have heard and seen too many first hand accounts of injuries from homeowners and workers. BE SAFE OUT THERE!
This blog posting is in no way meant to be a replacement or supplement for OSHA or safety regulations by other government agencies. Always review official safety guidelines.
For more information on ladder safety please visit:
http://www.osha.gov/Publications/portable_ladder_qc.html
