Growing up, I remember climbing ladders all the time, never worrying about safety, and never being told how to use them correctly. I believe this is the case with most people, right?
But, in the workplace, ladders are widely considered the MOST dangerous tools we use. In fact, in 2024, ladders (29 CFR 1926.1053) were the #3 most sited OSHA violation. Not only that, but OHSA’s #7 most cited violation is fall protection training, which can be considered ladder safety as well, since ladder use requires training.
LADDERS ARE DANGEROUS. VERY!
On average in the US, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 160 workers die from ladder falls each year, and there are more than 150,000 injuries. If we include all people in the U.S., the number grows to more than 300 fatalities and 500,000 injuries. And, of course, most injuries occur during fall months, when holiday decorations are going up.
LADDER SAFETY 101
When training workers how to use ladders safely, it is easiest to consider the following five points:
- TYPE of ladder
- LENGTH of ladder needed
- LOAD capacity
- MATERIAL ladder is made of
- USING the ladder correctly
TYPES OF LADDERS
There are many types of ladders. Some are considered multi-purpose, like Little Giant Ladders, and some are more job specific, like two person and platform ladders. In this article, we will discuss the two most common types, step ladders and extension ladders.
Step Ladders
Step ladders are self-supporting ladders meant to be used with spreaders fully extended and locked. They are never meant to be used folded and up against the wall. The last step and the top of ladder are never meant to be used. The back side of the ladder is not meant to be used and only one person can be on ladder at a time.
Extension Ladders
Extension ladders are nice to get to higher reaches, and consist of a base ladder with a fly ladder attached that can be pulled up and extended. But proper use is often ignored. For example, say I need to reach up to 20 feet to clean a window. I should be able to use a 16 foot extension ladder, right? After all, I am 6 feet tall. Well, the answer is no, because you cannot stand on the top 3 rungs, and that means the reach would only be an average of 15 feet. Ladder manufacturers are required to place proper labels denoting the reach height, making it easy to determine the safe usage point.
When using an extension ladder, the proper angle to the wall is 75.5 degrees. It may be easier to remember the 4:1 ratio rule, meaning for every four feet up, the ladder should be brought back from the wall one foot. So, if ladder is reaching 20 feet up the side of a house, the feet of the ladder should be 5 feet out from the wall. Knowing most people are not going to exactly measure this, a quick way is to set up ladder where you think is correct and then you can quickly measure by touching your toes to the feet of the ladder and your palms should rest on the 5th rung up. If not, quickly adjust properly. Not having the correct angle could be deadly, because having the feet too far from wall could cause the feet to kick out, and having it too close could cause you to fall backwards like Clark Griswald.
Also, ladders are meant to be used on flat, clean surfaces, and the rubber feet are meant to be used on floors, while the foot can be turned up to make a better grip on grass or other uneven surfaces.
LADDER CAPACITY
Not all ladders hold the same weight, and it is important when figuring out which one will hold your weight, you must also include the weight of everything on you, like clothes and tools. There are several different weight limit ladders broken down into types- see the chart to the right.
LADDER MATERIAL
Ladders are typically constructed of either aluminum, fiberglass, or wood. Although wood ladders are still around, they are not very popular. When choosing between aluminum or fiberglass, take into consideration the pros and cons of each. Aluminum ladders are lighter and easier to move around, but they are conductive and cannot be used near electrical wiring. Fiberglass is much safer around electricity but it is heavier and tougher to move around and load.
TIPS FOR SAFE USE
- Always keep your belt buckle inside the ladder side rails
- Always maintain three points of contact
- Always look up to see what hazards (i.e. electrical lines) you may hit or be close to
- Always inspect ladder for damage before use (ladders are often tossed around and dragged)
- Make sure you have correct height needed, type, and ladder material
- Block area around so no one can open a door or run into ladder while in use
- Make sure all stickers are on in place and legible
- Remember the 4:1 ratio when using an extension ladder
- Always extend ladder at least 3 feet above roof line (3 rungs showing)
- Tie or secure top of ladder if possible
- Spreaders must be locked in place when using step ladder
Ladders are serious tools and must be used properly. It is a requirement for employers to train workers how to use ladders safely. Ladders are one of the most cited OSHA violations.
I recently sat in a university seminar where the topic was safe extension ladder use. The step below the fly, or the top section of the ladder, is an unsafe step because it is recessed from the top rungs. Most accidents happen to workers when descending, as they miss the step below the fly with the recessed rung. To combat this, extension ladders are now being developed with the fly underneath the base ladder instead of on top. You heard it here first!
At General Air, we conduct numerous fall protection and ladder trainings, mostly on the customer’s site. We do not charge the customer for this compliance training, but we expect that the customer will see us as their safety supplier and buy their equipment from us, including ladders. Remember, if they aren’t buying safety items from you, who are they buying them from?
