Amanda Mayer, Safety Advisor
Safety Management Group
Ask most workers to name the greatest danger on their worksites, and you’ll get a variety of guesses, from various saws and drills, to punch presses, to torches. But on most worksites, the most dangerous tool is one that seems fairly harmless: the ladder.
The fact that many workers do not consider ladders to be particularly dangerous may be a key factor in the number of ladder-related injuries. It’s human nature to let our guard down when we don’t feel any kind of danger. But letting your guard down is exactly what you don’t want to do when you’re heading up a ladder.
The biggest potential for danger when using a ladder is falling. Here again, many workers underestimate the potential for injury. While head injuries tend to be the most serious type of injury related to falls, even a simple sprain or break can result in a great deal of lost time – and you don’t have to fall very far to suffer that kind of injury.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to significantly reduce the risk of suffering a ladder-related injury.
1. Choose the right ladder for the job.
Just as you wouldn’t use a standard screwdriver to turn a Phillips screw, or try to make a precise cut in drywall with a tree saw, it’s important to select the right type of ladder for the job. The biggest factor is height. You want to ensure that the type of ladder selected is tall enough so that the user won’t have to stand on the top rung, or above the highest safe working level. If a particular task is best suited for an extension ladder, using a stepladder or A-frame ladder can create a hazardous situation.
Also be sure that the ladder is made from a material that won’t create a hazard. For example, using an aluminum ladder near live power lines is an invitation for trouble. If a wood ladder is splintering, that also creates a potential injury hazard. Most of the time, a sturdy fiberglass ladder will be the safest, most durable choice for the task.
2. Understand the duty rating
Each ladder is issued a duty rating, which identifies its maximum capacity in pounds. Some workers see this as an approximate guideline, but it should be treated as a very clear rule. If a worker weighs 250 pounds, a ladder with a 225-pound rating is not going to protect him properly. It may even fail.
A common mistake on worksites is thinking that the duty rating only reflects the user’s weight. If the user is carrying heavy tools or other equipment up the ladder, their weight must be added to his. If that 250 pound worker is wearing a 10-pound tool belt and brings a 15-pound power tool up the ladder mentioned earlier, he is now exceeding its capacity by 50 pounds.
3. Inspect it before using it
Don’t assume that a ladder is in good working order. Before you use it, read the safety information labels, and then inspect the ladder’s condition. Check to ensure that all structural parts are sound, that hinges work properly, and that all fasteners are secured safely. If the ladder’s parts appear to be loose, if it leans to one side, or if the rungs are wet, don’t climb it.
4. Place it carefully
Always ensure that you’re placing the ladder on a level, stable surface. Be sure that the feet are completely contacting the floor or ground. Check to make sure there is no “play” or other movement in the ladder, because unsteadiness may increase once the ladder is carrying a load.
If you’re using an extension ladder, be sure that the rungs are locked into place, and that the ladder is positioned against a stable, even surface. The feet should be at least one foot away from the wall for every four feet of height. If it’s an A-frame ladder, verify that the hinges are not bent or broken.
Finally, check the area around the ladder. While nobody expects to fall, you want to be certain that you won’t make your injuries worse by dropping on to any sharp or otherwise hazardous objects. You also don’t want to put a ladder in front of a door that might be open and interfere with the ladder’s stability. If the ladder must be placed in front of a door, lock or block the door until the work is complete.
5. Be prepared
In addition to any personal protective equipment required for the task, be sure to wear slip-resistant shoes. If you feel dizzy, tired, or ill, do not climb, because those conditions will make it more difficult to maintain your balance. While on the ladder, keep your belt buckle between the cleats to ensure that you don’t throw the ladder off balance. If you need to lean to reach something, don’t do it. Instead, climb down, reposition the ladder, and climb up again. It may take a little extra time, but it is significantly safer.
6. Climb properly
Don’t carry tools with you as you climb a ladder. Instead, wear a tool belt, have a fellow worker hand them to you, or pull them up to your work area with a bucket attached to a rope. When you climb the ladder, remember to maintain three points of contact. At all times, you should have two feet and one hand or one foot and two hands in contact with the rungs. That “three points” rule might sound simple, but it’s the most effective way to prevent injuries.
Finally, remember that nearly all ladders are designed to hold just one person at a time. Unless you’re using a special ladder designed for multiple occupants, never allow more than one person on a ladder. Even if the two people don’t exceed the duty rating, they may throw the ladder out of balance, causing it to tip over.
7. Descend carefully
When climbing down, the “three points” rule is also solid advice. As with climbing up, make sure you have two feet and one hand or one foot and two hands in contact with the rungs at all times.
Be sure to take your time, too. It may seem that jumping off or sliding down the ladder is faster, but those couple seconds you’ll save are offset by a significantly greater risk for a fall and serious injury.
Amanda Mayer (AmandaMayer@SafetyManagementGroup.com) is a Safety Advisor for Safety Management Group, an Indianapolis-based professional service organization that provides nationwide workplace safety consulting, training, staffing, program planning, and implementation. Information is available at www.safetymanagementgroup.com/pub or by calling 800.435.8850.