Ladder Safety
Every ladder owner would do well to observe ladder safety precautions. A ladder is an indispensable tool in every home, but it can also cause serious or even fatal injuries when used improperly. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reveals that every year, over 164,000 emergency room-treated injuries related to ladder use are recorded in the U.S. Whatever task you may be performing—removing leaves from your gutters, checking roof insulation, hanging Christmas lights, painting jobs, or electrical work—it is best to arm yourself with sufficient knowledge on the safe use of ladders.
Ensuring Ladder Safety
Regardless of the type of job you are doing with the aid of a ladder, make sure to follow these simple ladder safety tips:
The first step to ladder safety is to identify the type of ladder that is most appropriate for the job. For instance, to reach attics and other high places, use the right loft ladders. Always climb up a durable ladder; never use a chair as a substitute. The ladder must always be on level ground and fully open, with all locks in place.
Face the safety ladder every time you climb up or come down. Always wear slip-resistant shoes and check to see that the ladder’s rungs are dry before you ascend it.
See to it that your body is centered on the ladder. You can determine step ladder safety with the help of your belt buckle. A good indication that you are reaching too high or far is a buckle that goes past the ladder rail.
Always stay at or below the highest safe standing level on a ladder. For safety step ladders, the prescribed safe standing level is the second rung from the top. For optimum extension ladder safety, stand at the fourth rung from the top.
Three points of contact—your feet and one hand—must be maintained while using your ladder. Safety ladders used to climb onto or descend from an upper surface must extend no less than 3 feet above the surface.
When working outdoors, do not use ladders close to power lines and in high-traffic areas.
The 4-to-1 rule applies to extension ladder use. For every 4-feet distance between the ground and point of contact such as a wall or roof, move back the ladder’s base by 1 foot.
Follow these tips on ladder safety so you can successfully complete your job without putting yourself in harm’s way.
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