Ladders Tips
Falls from ladders can be prevented
Use ladders safely!
Everyone uses ladders to reach out-of-the-way objects on pantry shelves or closets, to wash windows or clean gutters on the roof of a house. Ladders are so useful and commonplace that they are often taken for granted.
That's a mistake, because falling off a ladder also is commonplace. The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that each year more than 511,000 people are treated in hospital emergency rooms, doctors' offices and clinics and other medical settings because they failed to use ladders safely. Most of the injuries are cuts, bruises and fractured bones. However, more than 300 people a year die from injuries related to ladders-that's almost one death per day.
Orthopedic surgeons who treat these injuries, and the American Ladder Institute know that many of these injuries and deaths could be avoided by following safety guidelines on the use of ladders.
Falls from portable ladders are one of the leading causes of occupational fatalities and injuries.
Use the correct ladder and according to its working load:
Don't make a temporary repair of broken or missing parts. The temporary repair could fail and you could be held legally liable. A ladder should be free from grease, oil, mud, or other slippery materials before using.
When moving the ladder:
1. A straight or extension ladder should be carried parallel to the ground. Hold the side rail in the middle of the ladder so you can balance the load. You should get help moving a very long ladder.
2. Always carry a stepladder in the closed position.
When setting up the ladder:
1. Before you use a straight, extension or stepladder make sure it will not hit electrical wires, tree limbs or any other obstructions when it is extended.
2. Be sure the ladder is stable, place the feet of the ladder on firm, even ground.
3. Straight Ladders and Extension Ladders:
a. The bottom of the ladder should be 1 foot away from the wall for every 4 feet that the ladder rises. For example, if the ladder touches the wall 16 feet above the ground, the feet of the ladder should be 4 feet from the wall.
b. The ladder should extend 3 feet higher than the surface.
c. The upper and lower sections of an extension ladder should overlap to provide stability.
d. The highest standing level on this type ladder should be forth steps down from the top
4. Step Ladders
a. Make sure it is fully open, and the spreaders or braces between the two sections are fully extended & locked.
b. Do not place stepladders or utility ladders on boxes, countertops or unstable surfaces to gain additional height.
c. The highest standing level on a stepladder should be two steps down from the top.
Safety Tips:
Before climbing a ladder, make sure the locks are secured and the bottom and top of the ladder rails are on firm surfaces. The soles of your shoe should be clean so they don't slip off the ladder rungs. Don't wear leather-soled shoes-they can be slippery. Your shoelaces should be securely tied. Make sure your shoe-laces and pant legs are not so long that they extend under your shoes and cause you to slip.
1. Face the ladder while climbing and stay in the center of the rails. Grip both rails securely while climbing. Do not lean over the side of the ladder. Your belt buckle should not be further than the side rail.
2. On single or extension ladders, never stand above the third rung from the top and never climb above the point where the ladder touches the wall or vertical support.
3. On stepladders, never stand on the paint shelf, spreaders or back section.
4. Never stand on the top rung of any ladder.
5. Don't overreach; it's safer to move the ladder to a new location when needed. Don't try to "jog" or "walk" the ladder to a new location while standing on it. Climb down and reposition the ladder.
6. Don't overload a ladder; it is meant to be used by only one person at a time.
7. Never use a ladder in high winds.
8. Do not use any ladder if you tire easily, are subject to fainting spells or are using medications or alcohol that make you dizzy or drowsy.
All employees should receive ladders safety training along with job specific training for the tasks they are to perform. U.S Safety provides all kind of courses to capacitance employees to help them avoid accidents and be safe while they are performing their job. Our goal is to have everyone go home in the same condition they came to work.
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