44 Tips on Step Ladder Safety

 

Step Ladder Safety is a major concern because every year there are so many injuries that result from their improper use.  Just one simple mistake has the potential of causing serious injury or even death.

 

For everyone’s safety – yours and others – it is imperative that those using step ladders not merely take them for granted but rather become fully educated in the proper use of them.

 

The following step ladder safety tips have been prepared to assist everyone who uses step ladders to be more conscious of the safe use of them. The next injury that can be saved may be your own.

 

Here Are 44 Tips On Step Ladder Safety and Their Proper Use:

 

1.)          Always inspect a ladder prior to use to ensure it is in good condition. Do not use the ladder if it has cracked, broken, or missing rungs or side rails, or has loose components. Tag it “Do Not Use” and have it removed from service for either repair or destruction.

 

2.)         If any chance of coming in contact with live electrical wires, do not use steel or aluminum ladders as they easily conduct electricity. Instead use a dry wooden or fiberglass ladder.

 

3.)          All ladders are weight-rated. Do not exceed the weight capacity rating as this will only weaken the ladder and cause potential injury.

 

4.)         Do not use painted wooden ladders, as the paint can conceal flaws.

 

5.)         If using wooden ladders, ensure they are free from any splinters.

 

6.)         Always be cognizant of any moving machinery in the area. Forklifts, trucks, or scissor lifts can pose a real safety hazard. Take the appropriate precautions.

 

7.)          Ensure that the steps of the ladder are free of any debris, materials, tools, grease or other substances that could cause you to slip or lose your footing. Likewise, ensure your footwear is free of any slippery substances.

 

8.)          Ensure that the ladder is not on uneven, unstable or soft ground as this can cause it to tip.

 

9.)         Avoid placing ladders on slippery surfaces as this can result in the ladder shifting and the worker losing balance.

 

10.)     If extra height is needed, get the appropriate ladder. Never place ladders on top of unstable items to obtain extra height.

 

11.)     No one should climb on the back bracing of the ladder. They are not steps.

 

12.)      Only one worker at a time on any step ladder, unless the ladder is specifically designed for dual-access.

 

13.)     Prior to ascending a ladder, be sure that it is fully open with the spreader arms fully extended and locked in place, otherwise it can tip and fall sideways.

 

14.)      When ascending or descending a ladder and when working on it, always face the ladder. If you must turn sideways to perform work, as in drilling into a wall, use extreme caution as this can potentially be very dangerous with the worker pushing himself and the ladder sideways and tipping the ladder or losing balance and falling.

 

15.)     Use both hands when ascending or descending a ladder. Always have three points of contact with the ladder for proper balance.

 

16.)     When ascending or descending ladders, caution needs to be exercised in carrying tools, equipment, material or anything heavy. It would be safer to carry Items in a tool belt, in your pockets, or handed up to you by a co-worker.

 

17.)     Ensure your boot laces are tied up and not hanging. You do not want to step on them when ascending or descending a ladder, as this can cause you to slip or lose your balance.

 

18.)      Do not stand or sit on the top two rungs of a step ladder. Doing so extends a worker past the center of gravity and can easily fall. If you require more height, get a taller ladder.

 

19.)     When ascending a ladder, look up to see what is above your head.  You do not want to get injured by any sharp object that is hanging down.

 

20.)      When working from a ladder, do not over-reach as this can cause you to lose your balance and fall. Applying the “belt-buckle rule,” keep the center of your body inside the side rails of the ladder.  If, by reaching to the side, your belt buckle extends past either side rail, you need to climb down and move the ladder.

 

21.)     When working on a finished floor that may mark easily, ensure all rubber feet of the ladder are intact and no bare metal showing. You can also attach “booties” for extra precaution against marking the floor or place on clean cardboard.

 

22.)     It is not a good practice to lean a closed step ladder against a wall to do work from, unless there is no other option and it is securely braced. On some work sites it is strictly forbidden.

 

23.)      Extreme caution should be used when performing work that involves a pulling or pushing action from a step ladder, because if it suddenly gives, you can easily lose your balance and fall.  If the work is too strenuous and injury could result, consider other options for performing the work.

 

24.)     No one should be working under or near your ladder when you are working on it. If you happen to drop something, others can get hurt if nearby.

 

25.)      When using a ladder near a door, take steps to avoid an accident. You can have a co-worker guard the other side of the door, put a sign on the other side of the door, lock the door, or prop the door open.

 

26.)     When on a ladder, do not “walk” it in order to move it. Take the time to descend, move it, and then ascend again.

 

27.)     Step ladders should never be used in a horizontal position as platforms. They are designed for vertical use only.

 

28.)     All co-workers must recognize that it is not “funny” to kick or shake a ladder when someone else is working on it. This is dangerous horseplay and there should be zero tolerance for it. Safety should be everyone’s concern.

 

29.)     Safety in the workplace involves team effort. The unsafe use of step ladders can usually be more easily seen in others than in oneself. Hence, for everyone’s safety, if you see someone using a step ladder in an unsafe manner, kindly inform the worker.  He/she may return the favor and save you injury at a later time.

 

30.)      Using a step ladder as a wire rack, or something similar, is not a good idea, as the ladder can be pulled over and fall, potentially causing either damage to property or injury to people.

 

31.)      When ascending a ladder into a finished ceiling space, as in a tiled ceiling, it is advisable to wear safety glasses as the space above the tiles usually has dust and other particles blowing around, and these could imbed in your eyes causing injury.

 

32.)      When standing on a ladder, with your head in a dark ceiling space, take the time to get a portable light. You do not want to injure yourself on any sharp metal objects or exposed live electrical wires hanging out of a box or light fixture. (This has been observed.)

 

33.)      When working from a ladder in a finished office space, it’s a good practice to place bright orange pylons a distance from your ladder, as office workers tend to be preoccupied with their own agenda, possibly reading while walking, texting, or otherwise distracted. They may not see your ladder until too late. The brightly colored pylons will help to alert them. For extra precaution, you can even “caution-tape” the area off.

 

34.)      Do not leave tools on top of the ladder and walk away. Someone else may come along and, in picking up the ladder, the tools can fall and injure the person or others.

 

35.)     Many workers like to have small boxes secured on top of the ladder for storing small material in, such as screws, nuts or wire connectors. While this is handy, it could also result in a spill of the material all over the floor if the worker leaves the ladder, even temporarily, and someone else comes to pick the ladder up to move it. The material could then present a slip hazard if not picked up immediately.

 

36.)     When descending a ladder, be cognizant of the last step. So many have misjudged this and due to a miss-step, have fallen and injured themselves.

 

37.)      When closing a ladder, keep your fingers out of the way of the side arms. If your fingers get pinched, you will know it!

 

38.)      When carrying a ladder, be watchful of the ceiling and any hanging light fixtures, exit lights or other signage. Damage can easily and quickly be caused if not careful.

 

39.)     Also, when carrying a ladder and approaching a corner, ensure that the front of the ladder is held up, so as not to ram someone rounding the corner coming towards you.

 

40.)      When a step ladder is used as a means of gaining access to an elevated platform, landing or similar-type area, the ladder must extend 3 feet (1 meter) above it. Also, when stepping onto a step ladder from this elevated location, avoid stepping onto the top step.  The ladder can very easily tip sideways and fall over with you following it.  It is also a good practice to have someone firmly hold the ladder from below as you descend, or use a straight/extension ladder if available and can be utilized properly.

 

41.)      Do not use step ladders to support work platforms of any kind.

 

42.)      If a step ladder is too heavy or awkward to move around, get a co-worker to help.  Be sure to return the favor when requested.

 

43.)      When either ascending or descending a step ladder move one step at a time.  Never double-step either up or down as it is too easy to slip or lose your balance.

 

44.)      Protect ladders from extreme weather and corrosive materials that could cause damage or deterioration.

 

 

By learning and implementing these step ladder safety tips, you can minimize the risks of injury from using step ladders.

 

These 44 Tips On Step Ladder Safety have been brought to you courtesy of:

 

www.StepLadderSafetyTips.com  and  www.GeoTechMarketing.com

 

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