The Do's and Don'ts of Ladder Safety

According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were approximately 34,000 nonfatal and 110 fatal occupational ladder fall injuries in 2011. Ladders are essential in a number of different industries and professions, but there's also an inherit risk of injury associated with their use. In this post, we're going to take a look at some of the "do's" and dont's" to follow when using a ladder.

Don't Load Ladders Beyond Specified Maximum Load. This may sound like common sense, but you should never attempt to load a ladder with more weight than it's capable of holding. Under federal law, all ladders are required to display a maximum weight capacity. Familiarize yourself with the ladder's max weight load to ensure it's safe to use.

Don't Use a Ladder on Wet or Slippery Surface. Ladders should only be placed on dry surfaces to minimize the risk of injury. When a ladder is placed on a wet or otherwise slippery surface, it may slip when a person begins to climb it. The increased weight on top makes the ladder top heavy, which is a recipe for disaster when the bottom isn't properly secure.

Don't Move a Ladder When In Use. Another simple yet important ladder safety tip is to never move a ladder when it's in use. If a worker climbs 10 foot up a ladder only to discover he or she is in the wrong place, they should climb back down to reposition the ladder instead of asking another worker to move it for them. Moving a ladder that's in use is dangerous for a number of reasons, so don't make this mistake.

Do Keep Areas Around The Ladder Clear and Free of Obstruction. Before using a ladder, check the bottom and top of the area where you intend to use it to ensure it's free of obstruction. This is particularly important when using ladders around power lines and other overhead obstructions.

Do Maintain Three Points of Contact. A good rule of thumb to follow when using a ladder is to maintain three points of contact at all times. This means either two feet and one hand, or two hands and one feet. Three points of contact will improve your stability while reducing the risk of a fall-related injury.

For more information on OSHA's ladder standards, visit https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=standards&p_id=10839.