>> Important Safety Tips on Using Portable Ladders - Part 1

Falls from portable ladders are a major source of injury in the workplace. They are usually more serious than other physical injuries in the workplace, and more costly for everyone in terms of time loss, compensation costs and human suffering.

Ladders have been around a long time, and are common to almost every home and workplace. This, and their simplicity, generates the false impression that ladder work requires no special knowledge or skills. The opposite is true. Anyone who uses a ladder should have hands-on safety training to learn about the various risks involved and the precautions necessary to prevent falling.

Choosing the Right Ladder

Using a ladder for purposes not anticipated in its design is the most common cause of falls. Workers select among the ladders that are made available to them by the employer, but these are not necessarily what safety would dictate. The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) sets standards for ladder capacity. Safety regulations give specific measurement requirements. Companies and individuals need to focus more on the importance of choosing a CSA-approved ladder of appropriate strength, type, and length for the task.

Ladder inspection and setup, climbing techniques, safety precautions and common sense are also important factors that must be considered.

Inspecting a Ladder

Use a portable ladder only if you're sure it can support you. Inspect the ladder before and after using it. Pay close attention to painted wooden ladders; the paint could be hiding defects. If the ladder is defective, tag it and have it either repaired or thrown out.

Setting Up a Ladder

Ladders are very dangerous pieces of equipment. Once you've inspected your ladder and established that it's in good condition, it's important to know where and how to set up the ladder, and where and how not to.

* Before setting up a ladder, check for overhead electrical wires. Clear the area around the base and top of the ladder of debris, tools and other objects.

* If you must use a ladder in passageways, driveways or other high traffic areas, set up suitable barricades. If you're using a ladder in a doorway, lock the doors shut.

* Place the ladder feet 1/4 of the ladder's working length away from the base of the structure (e.g. if the ladder measures 8 feet between its base and its support point at the top of a wall, there should be 2 feet between the base of the ladder and the foot of the wall).

* Rest both side rails on the top support and secure the ladder to prevent slipping.

* If you will be stepping onto a higher platform (e.g. a roof or scaffold) from the ladder, make sure the ladder extends at least 1 m (3 ft) above that platform.

* Place the ladder on a firm, level footing. Secure the bottom to prevent it from slipping. Have someone hold the ladder if possible, especially if the ladder doesn't have slip-resistant feet or secure blocking.

* Do not set up a ladder on a box, cart, table or scaffold; on ice; or on any other unstable or slippery surface.

* Stand a ladder on both side rails, not on any of its rungs.

To be continued in Part 2....