With 300 fatalities and approximately 160,000 injuries per year resulting from falling off a ladder, you would think that everyone would take the safe use of an extension ladder seriously. Ladders are so simple to use that most people don’t even think twice about it. If your job requires the use of such ladders from time to time, whether it’s homebuilding or firefighting, it’s important to keep in mind these safe use practices.
Get Solid Footing
Your ladder’s feet should face toward the wall of the building or structure you are trying to get on (use the rubber side for hard surfaces, sharper side for softer ones). Start at the farthest end of the ladder and walk it slowly upward, moving it one rung at a time. Once the ladder is vertical, carefully move around so that you are standing between the ladder and the wall of the building or structure. If yours is a 2- or 3-section extension ladder, you can now face the ladder and slowly raise the higher sections using the rope.
Use the Correct Angle
The correct angle for your extension ladder is one foot out for every four feet of height. If your ladder is raised up to 16 feet, then the feet of the ladder should be four feet from the wall.
Use the Rails
When climbing the ladder, use the rails on the side to help guide you up. Although many people think using the rungs is appropriate, using the rails allows you to focus on what your feet are doing and gives you more contact points with the ladder.
Stay in the Center
With a person’s weight on them, ladders can still tip and sway if you get off-balance. Stay in the center of the ladder to keep it steady. If you must reach out to the side of the ladder, get off and move the ladder in the direction you need to reach.
Extend Beyond the Roof, but Don’t Step Above
You should always step off onto the roof of a structure before you step on a rung raised above the roof. Stay off of the last three rungs of your ladder when climbing.
Ladder safety is something too many people take for granted, as the number of injuries and fatalities clearly show. Use these tips to help you stay safe, whether on the job or when you're just doing a little bit of house maintenance.