Preventing Falls From a Ladder

1. Choose the right ladder for the job.First you need to make sure that a ladder is the best equipment for what you need to do. Would a scaffolding or a mechanical lift be better?

Many times, the ladder is the only physical support you have while you are working. If it fails, you can fall. That's why it is so important to find the right ladder when you do need to use one.

The three main types of ladders—step ladders, straight ladders, and extension ladders—are used in different situations for different tasks.

Before you start using a ladder, ask yourself two questions.

Is the ladder long enough? It should be long enough for you to set it at a stable angle and still extend at the top to give you something to hold on to when you get on the ladder to descend. Setting the ladder at the right angle helps you keep your balance on the ladder. It also helps keep the ladder from falling backwards.

Make sure the ladder extends 3 feet (3 rungs; 0.9 meters) above the surface you will be working on.

Make sure the ladder is placed at a stable angle. For every four feet (1.2 m) high the ladder is, the base should be 1 foot (.3 m) out from the wall

For example, if you will be working on a 10 foot-high roof (3 m), you need a ladder that is at least 14 feet (4.25 m) long. The base should be 2 ½ feet (.75 m) from the wall. Is the ladder in good working condition? It shouldn’t be missing pieces or be cracked or otherwise damaged. Check the duty rating on extension ladders – is it high enough for the weight you will be putting on it? Longer ladders don’t always have higher duty ratings, so be sure to check. In construction, the most common ratings are:

• Type 1 supports up to 250 pounds (113 kg).
• Type 1A supports up to 300 pounds (136 kg).
• Type 1AA supports up to 375 pounds (170 kg).

2. Tie the top and bottom of the ladder to fixed points.

Tie both sides of the top of the ladder to a fixed point on the roof or other high surface near where you are working. The bottom should be tied to a fixed point on the ground. Securing the ladder in this way prevents the ladder from sliding side-to-side or falling backwards and prevents the base from sliding.

Tying the ladder off at the beginning of the day and untying it at the end will only take you about 5 minutes. It can make all the difference for your safety. If you need to move the ladder around, allow extra time for this important step, or consider using something else, such as a scaffold.

3. Don't carry tools or other materials in-hand while climbing the ladder.

Take precautions when you are going up or down a ladder. Instead of carrying tools, boards, or other materials in your hands, use a tool belt, install a rope and pulley system, or tie a rope around your materials and pull them up once you have reached the work surface. Ask for help if you need to use more than one hand to pull them up.

Carrying tools or anything else in your hands as you climb the ladder can throw you off balance.

When you climb a ladder, you should always have 3 points of contact to keep you stable. That means that you either have both feet and one hand gripping the ladder, or both hands and one foot, at all times. If one of your hands is full, you can't maintain your 3 points of contact and aren't stable on the ladder.