Because falls in construction are such a major cause of injuries and fatalities at work, we're dedicating a few articles at this time to providing some fall-related safety tips to make sure you and your coworkers go home safely every night.
In this article, we're going to take a look at some ladder safety tips. Ladders are especially dangerous--every year, about 70 construction workers die when falling from ladders, and in addition about 4,000 construction workers experience an injury as a result of falling from a ladder that's so severe they miss work.
So, let's learn three simple safety tips for staying safer while working with ladders. And don't forget to scroll down to the very bottom of this article, where you can download a free portable ladder self-inspection checklist.
In addition to this article, we also created the following articles on topics related to falls, fall prevention, fall protection, and fall hazards/risks that might interest you as well:
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Here are three simple tips for working more safely with ladders. Follow each of them every time you work with a ladder.
Always inspect a ladder before using it.
Begin by checking the ladder's duty rating to see if it can support the weight of your body and your toolbelt.
Then, inspect the ladder's fails, rugs, feet, and spreaders or rung locks for any signs of damage or defects.
Never use a damaged ladder, and always remove a defective or damaged ladder from us and tag it "not safe for use." Be sure the damaged ladder is repaired or removed from service.
It's very important to position your ladder properly before using it.
For all ladders, always make sure the ladder is on level, solid footing, and be sure to position the ladder near your work so that you're not over-reaching.
For extension ladders, always obey the 4-1 rule, meaning set the base of the ladder one foot away from the base of the building for every four feet of height. In addition, tie off the ladder at the top and (when possible) at the bottom.
Seems sensible enough, but sometimes people forget, neglect, or don't know how to use a ladder safely to avoid injuries or deaths.
Using your ladder safely includes things like:
Learning experts recommend you use a blended learning solution that utilizes instructor-led training, field-based training, hands-on training, online training, refresher training, and even field-based performance support for maximum training effectiveness.
An online ladder safety training course like the one sampled below can be a great addition to your overall ladder safety training program, and can help your organization prevent injuries and fatalities related to the use of ladders.
We've also got the following ladder-related resources for you:
Remember that although ladders are very common, they're not to be taken for granted, and they play a part in far too many occupational injuries and fatalities every year.
Follow these tips are a good start to working safely on a ladder, though of course they're not the entire A-Z on ladder safety (so keep learning!).
Work safely and before you go, feel free to download our free OSHA GENERAL INDUSTRY PORTABLE LADDER COMPLIANCE checklist below.
Download this free checklist to help your compliance efforts with portable ladders for OSHA's general industry regulations.
Jeff Dalto, Senior Learning & Performance Improvement Manager
Jeff is a learning designer and performance improvement specialist with more than 20 years in learning and development, 15+ of which have been spent working in manufacturing, industrial, and architecture, engineering & construction training. Jeff has worked side-by-side with more than 50 companies as they implemented online training. Jeff is an advocate for using evidence-based training practices and is currently completing a Masters degree in Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning from Boise State University. He writes the Vector Solutions | Convergence Training blog and invites you to connect with him on LinkedIn.
