Make ladder safety a priority with these tips

Understanding how to safely use a ladder is important to reduce the risk of injuries. Inspections, proper training and safe setup procedures can help ensure these risks are minimized.

Use and share the following safety tips to reduce risk of injury:

• Always use ladders only for their intended purpose.
• Use the correct type of ladder for your project (step, extension, straight, combination, aluminum, fiberglass or wood).
• Look for warning labels and follow instructions; these will show weight limits, proper foot placement and more.
• When working on electrical projects, always use a non-conductive ladder (i.e. wood or fiberglass).
• Check for loose (can be moved by hand), broken or cracked steps or rungs as well as loose nails, bolts, screws and other parts.

Understanding how to properly place and maneuver ladders is also important for safety:

• Maintain three points of contact at all times (one foot and two hands, or two feet and one hand).
• Secure the ladder to prevent movement. Do not climb if the ladder is wobbly or on an unbalanced surface; be aware of hinges or spreaders that could be loose or broken.
• Extend the top of the ladder three feet above the landing. When extending a ladder (never overextend), always check for loose, broken or missing extension locks.
• Remember the 4:1 rule; for every 4-foot increase in elevation, the base or feet of the ladder should be set an additional foot out from the structure the ladder is secured to or resting on.
• If outside, avoid unsafe weather conditions like rain and wind.

Remind your insureds to offer these suggestions to their employees to help reduce risk of injury. Contact your workers’ compensation safety and loss control consultant for more information.