Step Ladder Safety

Using a Step Ladder might seem like a very simple little operation, but you wouldn’t believe the number of people that get injured on them every year. Whether it is falling off the ladder, slipping and hurting yourself, or simply just not using them correctly, there is a specific technique to a step ladder! Step Ladder Safety starts with setting up the ladder in a safe position. The ground that it is set up on needs to be flat, and if it is soft them you need to use a leveler, or blocks of timber under each corner. Ensure that you open the ladder up to the required distance, and flick the locking pieces over on both sides.

This ensures that the ladder is going to be most stable, and that it won’t collapse inwards or outwards. The next important thing to remember is that a step ladder is a tool to get somewhere, not to work off. What this means is that you aren’t supposed to work all day off a ladder. They are designed as a form of transport, not as a shelf to stand on. If you want to do that, you need to build scaffolding. Step Ladder Safety is quite simple, but it’s easy enough to break a leg if you fall off from doing the wrong thing!

When using any ladder, 3 points of contact are a must at all times. This means that you need to have at least both hands and one foot touching the ladder, or both feet and one hand at all time. This eliminates the potential risk of you falling off. If you go down to 2 points of contact it becomes much easier to fall off. Most step ladders are less than 3 meters tall, but you can still really hurt yourself from that height! Ensure that the Step ladder is rated for your weight. They should all come with the appropriate stickers and signage clearly stating who can use it. Most ladders are around the 120kg mark. If you can, use a Ladder Leveler as thees will stop you from making the ladder tip sideways.

If you are above that, Step Ladder Safety says clearly that you can’t use it! Make sure that there is nothing wrong with the ladder before you use it. Often in a workplace these break and are fixed up poorly. Not only is this dangerous for the person who goes to use it, but you are liable for any fix ups! Make sure that the ladder is easy to use, and that there is plenty of grip. Pay particular attention when it is wet to where and how you climb the ladder.

It truly is so easy to slip off these ladders if you aren’t applying Step Ladder Safety. Above all, use the right step ladder for the right application. You can get timber, aluminum, steel, fiberglass and plastic ladders. These are all used for different purposes; pick the right one. If you don’t need a step ladder, get a normal ladder. Some can be used as both, but make sure that the locking pins are in place if you do this. Step Ladder Safety is highly important, and although many people ignore it, put the time in to keep yourself safe! This applies to using everything from a Concertina Ladder right through to telescopic ladders.