Five Rules For Ladder Safety

Let’s face it; ladders make life easier. Sturdy, practical, versatile and easily transported to and from your site, from cleaning windows, to fixing the shingles on your roof, a ladder provides the ideal access to those out-of-reach areas. It is, however, highly important that you remain safe and smart whenever using a ladder, as the risk of working at height is plain for all to see. In this helpful guide, we provide you with four important safety rules to remember when using a ladder.

Use Appropriate Ladder

It’s absolutely vital that you select the appropriate ladder for the task at hand, ensuring you choose the correct load capacity for the job required. You must think carefully about your body weight, the weight of your equipment, tools and materials and consider all of these factors when choosing your ladder.

Carry Out Inspections

It’s important you carry out the necessary safety checks and inspections before and after you use your ladder, to ensure that your personal safety is protected from the risk of accident or incident.

Before you use your ladder you should carry out the following inspections:

• Check ladder stability.
• Ensure screws, bolts and all hinges are tight and the base of the ladder is secure.
• Inspect for loose or damaged rungs, steps, supports, side rails and any other noticeable structural defects or damage.
• Check for oil, dirt, grease or paint that could pose the risk of slips and falls.
• Ensure ladders are kept away from any electric wiring.
• Remove all ladders with structural damage.

Once you have finished using your ladder, you must then carry out the following inspections:

• Assess your ladder for any new structural damage sustained to the steps, side rails, supports or rungs.
• Inspect your ladder for bends, loosened screws, hinges or bolts.
• Recheck ladder stability.

Correct Placement

Correctly placing your ladder is crucial for safety. Whenever you use a portable ladder, pay close attention to the surface, ensuring it’s placed on a level platform and that the ladder has non-slip base pads. A straight ladder should be placed at a 4:1 ratio, meaning that for every foot away from the wall your ladder is, your point of support must be 4 feet away.

Practice Caution

Whenever ascending and descending steps and ladder, you should practice caution at every turn. Keep yourself in the middle and face the ladder as you climb, holding onto the side rails with at least one hand when either climbing or descending.

Looking for steps and ladders? At Top Tower, we provide premium quality access solutions and accessories to our customers, helping people stay safe while working from height. Our products are perfect for everyone, whether you’re doing some DIY or are a professional looking for tools to use. Contact us today.

For more information on Five Rules For Ladder Safety talk to Toptower Ltd