Ladder SafetyLadder Safety

Choosing Right Equipment -- Ladder or Choosing Right Equipment -- Ladder or Scaffold?Scaffold?

• Will the job take only a Will the job take only a short amount of time?short amount of time?

• Does work require side-Does work require side-to-side movement?to-side movement?

• Does the work require Does the work require using tools with both using tools with both hands?hands?

LadderLadder ScaffoldScaffold

• Straight LadderStraight Ladder• Step LadderStep Ladder• Extension LadderExtension Ladder

• Sectional LadderSectional Ladder

• Trestle LadderTrestle Ladder• Trolley LadderTrolley Ladder• Side Rolling Side Rolling • Mason’s LadderMason’s Ladder

• Max 30’Max 30’• Max 20’Max 20’• Max 60’Max 60’• Combined lengths of section not Combined lengths of section not

longer tlonger than specified for equivalent han specified for equivalent non-sectional typesnon-sectional types

• Max 30’Max 30’• Max 20’Max 20’• Max 20’Max 20’• Max 40’Max 40’

Types of Ladders

Advantages/Disadvantages of:

• FiberglassFiberglass

– Strong, lightweight, Strong, lightweight, electrically non-electrically non-conductiveconductive

– More expensive More expensive than wood or metalthan wood or metal

• MetalMetal

– Must not be used Must not be used when working on when working on or near electrical or near electrical wireswires

– lightweightlightweight

Advantages/Disadvantages of:Advantages/Disadvantages of:

Advantages/Disadvantages of:Advantages/Disadvantages of:

• WoodWood

– Heavier than aluminum or Heavier than aluminum or fiberglassfiberglass

– Can rotCan rot

– Electrically non-conductiveElectrically non-conductive

Extension LaddersExtension Ladders

• AlwaysAlways raise extension ladders so that raise extension ladders so that the upper section overlaps and rests on the upper section overlaps and rests on the bottom section.the bottom section.

• The upper section must always overlap The upper section must always overlap on the climbing sideon the climbing side of the extension of the extension ladder.ladder.

StraightStraight LadderLadder• If a straight If a straight

ladder is used ladder is used to climb onto an to climb onto an elevated work elevated work station, it will station, it will extend at least extend at least 3 1/2 feet 3 1/2 feet above the above the working level.working level.

This ladder is not sufficiently extended

Load Limits -- Step LaddersLoad Limits -- Step Ladders

• Select a ladder designed to hold the Select a ladder designed to hold the necessary load, including worker and necessary load, including worker and equipment:equipment:

– Type IType I -- -- industrial stepladder for heavy duty, industrial stepladder for heavy duty, such as utilities, contractors and industrial usesuch as utilities, contractors and industrial use

– Type IIType II -- -- commercial stepladder for medium commercial stepladder for medium duty, painters office, light industrial duty, painters office, light industrial (not (not recommended at UWM)recommended at UWM)

– Type IIIType III -- -- Household Household (not allowed at UWM)(not allowed at UWM)

• Review checklist prior to using ladder

Immediately remove ladder from service if Immediately remove ladder from service if

inspection findsinspection finds:• Broken or missing steps, Broken or missing steps,

rungs or cleatsrungs or cleats

• Broken or damaged side railsBroken or damaged side rails

• Other faulty equipment such Other faulty equipment such

as missing feet, damaged as missing feet, damaged

connections, broken rivetsconnections, broken rivets

• Always place Always place ladders on a ladders on a stable surfacestable surface

• Clear debrisClear debris

• Level uneven Level uneven groundground

• Base of straight Base of straight ladder should ladder should be 1 foot away be 1 foot away from the surface from the surface for every 4 feet for every 4 feet to the topto the top

(1:4)(1:4)

1 foot

4 feet

• Always assure secure Always assure secure footingfooting

• Keep ladder free from Keep ladder free from mud, grease and other mud, grease and other substances which could substances which could cause you to slipcause you to slip

• Keep area around Keep area around ladder free from traffic. ladder free from traffic.

• Always Always lock or lock or guard door guard door if ladder if ladder blocks blocks doorwaydoorway

• Face the ladder when Face the ladder when ascending or descendingascending or descending

• Both hands should be Both hands should be placed on ladder rails, not placed on ladder rails, not on rungs, when ascending on rungs, when ascending and descendingand descending

• Maintain 3 point contact at Maintain 3 point contact at all times -- This means all times -- This means both feet and one hand or both feet and one hand or one foot and both handsone foot and both hands

• Use extra Use extra

caution while caution while

climbing in climbing in

windy windy

weatherweather

• Always climb Always climb

completely past completely past

the landing before the landing before

stepping overstepping over

• Don’t ““walk” a ladder walk” a ladder

(rocking from side to (rocking from side to side to move)side to move)

• Don’t use a stepladder use a stepladder

as a straight ladderas a straight ladder

• Don’t carry tools in carry tools in

your hands. your hands. (A tool (A tool

pouch or belt should be pouch or belt should be used or tools should be used or tools should be hoisted up) hoisted up)

• Don’t overreach to overreach to

either side or lean too either side or lean too far forward or far forward or backwardbackward

• Don’t use a use a ladder ladder without without locking locking spreader or spreader or other device other device in placein place

• Don’t climb using climb using

bracing on back legs of bracing on back legs of step ladderstep ladder

• Don’t attempt to attempt to straighten or use a bent straighten or use a bent ladder made of metal or ladder made of metal or reinforced plastic--reinforced plastic--repairs repairs should be made by qualified should be made by qualified personnelpersonnel

• Don’t Climb using two highest steps or top of platform

• Don’t use a defective use a defective

ladderladder

• Don’t block a fire exit block a fire exit

• Don’t use a ladder as use a ladder as

a platforma platform

• Don’t use a ladder by use a ladder by

more than one personmore than one person

• Don’t place ladder on place ladder on

boxes, barrels or other boxes, barrels or other

unstable surfaces to extend unstable surfaces to extend

heightheight

• Don’t use a ladder if you are use a ladder if you are feeling dizzy, light-headed, are feeling dizzy, light-headed, are excessively tired, on excessively tired, on medication, have recently medication, have recently consumed alcohol or are consumed alcohol or are otherwise temporarily impaired.otherwise temporarily impaired.

• Store ladders for easy Store ladders for easy access and inspection.access and inspection.

• Store vertically if Store vertically if possible. If not possible. If not possible, store possible, store horizontally supporting horizontally supporting ladder at several points ladder at several points to avoid saggingto avoid sagging

• Protect ladder from Protect ladder from heat, weather and heat, weather and corrosive materialscorrosive materials

• Do not Do not leave leave ladders ladders where they where they may create may create a tripping or a tripping or fall hazard fall hazard for othersfor others

• Lift ladder Lift ladder using legs using legs muscles, not muscles, not backback

• Carry holding Carry holding ladder close to ladder close to bodybody

When carrying ladder:

• Balance center Balance center of ladder on of ladder on your shoulderyour shoulder

• Position so front Position so front end of ladder is end of ladder is above your above your head and back head and back end is near the end is near the groundground

When ascending and descending stairs, carry ladder with one hand and hold stair rail with the other hand

• Set ladder down Set ladder down when opening and when opening and closing doorsclosing doors

• Take special care Take special care when negotiating when negotiating corners or turning corners or turning aroundaround

• When it is necessary for When it is necessary for two people to carry a two people to carry a ladder, both should be ladder, both should be on the same side of on the same side of ladder and both people ladder and both people should walk in step.should walk in step.

• Spikes, hooks or ladder Spikes, hooks or ladder feet should face toward feet should face toward the rear when ladder is the rear when ladder is being carriedbeing carried

• Always face Always face

ladder when ladder when

ascending, ascending,

descending and descending and

performing workperforming work

• Keep between the Keep between the side rails when side rails when working --your working --your body should be body should be centered on the centered on the ladder so your belt ladder so your belt buckle is between buckle is between the side railsthe side rails

• When replacing When replacing lights, never lights, never touch both touch both connections of connections of fixture at the fixture at the same timesame time

What’s Wrong in this Picture?What’s Wrong in this Picture?

What’s Wrong in this Picture?What’s Wrong in this Picture?

What’s Wrong in this Picture?What’s Wrong in this Picture?

What’s Wrong in this Picture?What’s Wrong in this Picture?

• What’s Wrong in What’s Wrong in this Picture?this Picture?