General Ladder Safety Training

Ladders are a great way climb onto different surfaces to get work done, but beware! Improper use of a ladder or

using an object other than a ladder to reach an item can result in a serious, even a life-threatening injury. Did you

know that ladder violations ranked 8th with a total of 3,244 citations among OSHA’s top 10 most frequently cited

standards? Did you also know that about 16% of all fatal injuries in the construction industry and 24% of non-fatal

injuries involving days away from work resulted from the misuse of ladders?

The purpose of this training is to give you quick tips to minimize your risk of injury and to recognize hazards

associated with the use of ladders!

What are some unsafe ladder behaviors?

  • Loading up both hands with tools and supplies before you climb up or down a ladder, to keep from making

multiple trips, but it is much more dangerous.

  • Going to the top rung so you can reach just a little higher, placing stresses, causing the ladder to become

unstable and placing pressures that ladders weren’t designed to handle.

  • Being up on a ladder and over-reaching to the side instead of moving the ladder. The ladder could tip over

and you could fall off!

  • Overloading the ladder or use it in a way that it was not designed for causing it to fail and injuries to occur.

What are safe ladder usage practices?

  • Make you have the correct type of ladder for the job

  • Check proper weight rating; (you plus your tools should not exceed the maximum weight limit of the ladder).

  • Evaluate your intended use: is the ladder the correct length? Will it be set up on an adequate base? Does

the ladder need to be secured to the structure?

  • Make sure your ladders extend three feet over the working height.

  • Set the ladder up properly.

  • Check the ladder for its general safety condition: Are there cracks in the side rails or steps? Are the

ladder rungs clean to avoid slips, trips and falls? Is the ladder equipped with safety feet or are they

missing? Has it been repaired “on the job?”

  • Make sure that any ladder that is damaged is removed to prevent from possible use and replaced!

How do you safely use a ladder?

  • Use the correct ladder for the job! Don’t use an aluminum ladder if you’re working near electric wires.

  • Set up ladders so that both rails are supported

  • Always face the ladder when going up or down using the three-point contact method—Two feet one hand or

one foot two hands

  • Do not place ladders on front of doors that will open towards the ladder

  • Use the 75% or the 4:1 rule when leaning your ladder on the work surface

  • NEVER use ladders for anything but for what they are intended for! Do not use ladders as a walkway!

  • Do not set ladders on top of boxes, barrels, or other unstable bases.

  • When possible, use a lead rope to raise or lower tools or supplies to your level. Avoid carrying heavy or

awkward items on the ladder.

SAFETY TAKE-AWAY:

It only takes a moment to fall off a ladder or to climb it safely! Choose safety first!