Count some tips of safety at work place

8. Use Ladders Properly

Don’t just assume that because you have a ladder at home, you know what you’re doing. You know what they say about assuming? It gets people injured. Ladders lie at the source of many industrial and workplace accidents simply because we take their use for granted. Ladders are familiar. You use them to hang your Christmas lights, paint the living room, change that annoying hard to reach high-hat bulb, and clean your gutters. We use them so often that we must know what we’re doing because we’ve never gotten hurt before, right? Ladders are dangerous. When improperly used, they’re REALLY dangerous. Before using a ladder, consider whether or not they are the best solution for the task. Then make sure your employees are trained to properly use a ladder. It’s not as simple as you might think. For safe ladder handling, there are three main concepts to consider.

1. 
   Have a 3 ft. extension of the ladder past the level to which you are climbing.
   
2. 
   Have a 4:1 ratio of rise and run.
   

• 
  Basically, for every four feet high the ladder rises, place the base of the ladder one foot away from the structure.
  
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  Ensure you have three points of contact with the ladder at all times.
  
  • 
    Two legs, one hand. Two hands, one leg. If you think about it, this means you do not carry something such as a bucket up or down a ladder. This would force you to break the three-point rule. Find another means like pulling it up by a rope after transitioning or holding smaller items in a belt or pocket.
    

Do these things and you’ll have a great start to a secure extension ladder experience.

As for a step-ladder, you might think it’s common sense to use it correctly. You’d be surprised how many people confuse the sticker that says, “Don’t stand on this step or above” to mean that you can stand on that step! Provide your employees with proper training, even if it might seem like common sense.

For fixed ladders over 24’ high, you will want to ensure that your workers are using a ladder safety system, which includes a lanyard, harness, and a continuous vertical lifeline (cable or rigid rail) that spans the height of the ladders. Cages are no longer a proper means of fall protection. And that’s just the climb. Don’t forget the transition at the top. Make sure that it is protected by a ladder safety gate and premier fall protection for a secure, safe experience.