Ladder SafetyLadder Safety

University Safety and AssurancesUniversity Safety and Assurances

229-6339229-6339www.safety.uwm.edu

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

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

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

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

LadderLadder ScaffoldScaffold

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• 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 han specified for equivalent non-sectional typesequivalent non-sectional types

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

Types of LaddersTypes of Ladders

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Duty RatingsDuty Ratings

• Type IAA: Special-duty -- 375 lbs • Type IA: Extra heavy-duty -- 300 lbs • Type I: Heavy-duty -- 250 lbs

• Type II: Medium-Duty -- 225 lbs (not recommended at UWM)

• Type III: Light-Duty -- 200 lbs (not allowed at UWM)

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Load LimitsLoad Limits

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

• Do not assume that a longer ladder has a higher duty rating. There is no relationship between length and duty rating.

• The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) requires that a duty rating sticker be placed on the side of every ladder so users can determine if they have the correct type ladder for each task/job.

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Advantages/DisadvantagesAdvantages/Disadvantages

• FiberglassFiberglass

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

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

Fiberglass Ladder

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• MetalMetal

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

– lightweightlightweight

Advantages/DisadvantagesAdvantages/Disadvantages

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Advantages/DisadvantagesAdvantages/Disadvantages

• WoodWood

– Heavier than aluminum Heavier than aluminum or fiberglassor fiberglass

– Can rotCan rot

– Electrically non-Electrically non-conductiveconductive

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Check for damage prior to using:

• Make sure feet are not broken or malfunctioning and that the slip-resistant pads are secure.

• Inspect for cracks, bends & splits on the side rails, rungs & steps.

• Make sure both rung locks are working properly.

• Test the rope & pulley. Examine rope for any signs of fraying. Make sure the pulley is operating smoothly.

• Ensure all bolts and rivets are secure. • Make sure ladder is free of foreign

materials such as oil & grease. • Make sure the spreader braces are

secure & working properly. • Aluminum or steel ladders should be

inspected for rough burrs and sharp edges.

Ladder Safety ChecklistLadder Safety Checklist

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Immediately remove ladder from Immediately remove ladder from service if inspection findsservice if inspection finds

• Broken or missing steps, rungs Broken or missing steps, rungs

or cleatsor 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

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

• Clear debrisClear debris

• Level uneven Level uneven groundground

Ladder Set-UpLadder Set-Up

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• 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 substances which could cause you to slipcould cause you to slip

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

Ladder Set-UpLadder Set-Up

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

Ladder Set-UpLadder Set-Up

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• Base of straight Base of straight ladder should be ladder should be 1 foot away 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

Ladder Set-UpLadder Set-Up

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• 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

Ladder Set-UpLadder Set-Up

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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.

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Extension Ladder OverlapExtension Ladder Overlap

Extension Ladders should have the proper overlap:

• Three foot overlap for 32-foot ladder • Four foot overlap for 32- to 36-foot

ladder • Five foot overlap for 36- to 48-foot

ladder • Six foot overlap for 48-foot ladder

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Straight LadderStraight Ladder

• 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 above 3 1/2 feet above the working the working level.level.

This ladder is not sufficiently extended

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• 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 both all times -- This means both feet and one hand or one feet and one hand or one foot and both handsfoot and both hands

Safe Ladder UseSafe Ladder Use

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• Use extra Use extra

caution while caution while

climbing in climbing in

windy windy

weatherweather

Safe Ladder UseSafe Ladder Use

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• Always climb Always climb

completely past completely past

the landing before the landing before

stepping overstepping over

SafeSafe Ladder UseLadder Use

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• 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

SafeSafe Ladder UseLadder Use

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• 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

Safe Ladder UseSafe Ladder Use

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

Safe Ladder UseSafe Ladder Use

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• 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 straighten or use a bent ladder made of bent ladder made of metal or reinforced metal or reinforced plastic--plastic--repairs should be repairs should be made by qualified made by qualified personnelpersonnel

Safe Ladder UseSafe Ladder Use

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

Safe Ladder UseSafe Ladder Use

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• 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 a use a ladder as a platformplatform

• Don’t use a ladder by use a ladder by more than one personmore than one person

Safe Ladder UseSafe Ladder Use

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• 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.

Safe Ladder UseSafe Ladder Use

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• Always face Always face

ladder when ladder when

ascending, ascending,

descending and descending and

performing workperforming work

Ascending and DescendingAscending and Descending

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• 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

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• 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

Ladder StorageLadder Storage

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• 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

Ladder StorageLadder Storage

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• Lift ladder using Lift ladder using legs muscles, legs muscles, not backnot back

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

Lifting and CarryingLifting and Carrying

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When carrying ladder:

• Balance center Balance center of ladder on your of ladder on your shouldershoulder

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

Lifting and CarryingLifting and Carrying

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

Lifting and CarryingLifting and Carrying

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• 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

Lifting and CarryingLifting and Carrying

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

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

Lifting and CarryingLifting and Carrying

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

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

• Climb only as high as the 2nd tread from the top on a step ladder and the 3rd rung from the top on a straight ladder.

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

• Do not sit on the ladder and never sit or stand on the top cap of a step ladder – it is not designed to carry your weight.

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Ladder should be opened fully and locking mechanism engaged prior to ascending

What’s Wrong in This Picture?What’s Wrong in This Picture?