Proper Stability for Optimum Step Ladder Safety

Most of the work incidents that are recorded throughout the United States yearly involve ladders. People for a number of reasons use ladders daily, so the risk of potential injury during use is high. Because of a ladder’s multiple and high usage globally, a ladder may not be seen as a safety threat. Be assured; ladders are not a toy and practicing proper step ladder safety could not only prevent injury but also prevent death.

Biggest Safety Concerns with Step Ladder Safety: Stability

There are many reasons for the amount of ladder accidents that happen yearly. They could attribute to over wear, incorrect angles, unleveled surfaces, or a number of other complications. One of the biggest contributing reasons for the high amount of ladder injuries is due to instability. Lateral movement is the biggest factor of step ladder safety. If your ladder is not stable and lateral movement is not braced against or prevented, falls are imminent. Knowing how to stabilize your step ladder properly can save you from injury or worse.

Step One: Inspection of your Step Ladder

Before even using your step ladder, you should be inspecting for any possible likeliness of injury. Make sure each of the pieces is not bent or broken. Also, check to be sure that rungs are non-slip and not worn to the point of breaking. The ladder should be free of any slippery substances like grease or oil. Inspection and proper awareness of your ladder can save you a lot of pain and only takes a few moments.

Step Two: Pay Attention to Base Placement

Stabilizing your ladder starts with a firm, level ground. Without a solid ground, a ladder is not secured laterally and will fall once weight is applied. Also, be sure if you put your ladder on a slippery surface that your base is prepared with non-slip molding or rubber. If you have no option for a firm, flat surface to place your ladder on, you should not be using your ladder. Once you have found your desired surface, make sure that your ladder is extended to the correct 4:1 ratio. For extension and single sided ladders, that’s one foot from the object you are scaling for every four feet of height.  If you are working with a folding step ladder be sure that it is locked in place before climbing. Be sure to check for loose debris around the base area of your ladder for safety during climbing and clearing the ladder.

Step Three: Pay Attention to the Top

Most falls that happen on ladders from lateral movement happens when a person is at the top. To prevent this, the top must be secured. To do this you can use wire, rope, or hooks to attach the top of the ladder to a sturdy part of the structure you are scaling. If you are not close to the structure or you cannot find something to tie to your ladder, you may use a ladder stabilizer. This is a ladder accessory that allows you to stabilize the top of the ladder no matter what structure you climb.

 

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