In some professions, such as the construction industry, falls are the number one reason for serious and even fatal injuries. Many of these falls happen when workers are using ladders.
As such, workers need to focus on safety. But what should they do to lower the odds of being involved in a ladder fall?
10 important tips
Nothing guarantees that a fall won’t happen, but the following tips can make it less likely:
- Always inspect the ladder before use.
- Make sure that it has been set up on a stable foundation.
- Use the correct type of ladder for the job, such as choosing between an extension ladder or a step ladder.
- Never lean from the top of the ladder, as this can cause it to tip sideways.
- Never attempt to move a ladder while still standing on it, such as “walking” it to the side.
- Be sure that only one worker climbs the ladder at a time.
- Keep a close eye on weight limits, especially when transporting anything up the ladder.
- While climbing, maintain three points of contact at all times, only moving one foot or one hand at a time.
- Watch out for power lines and other overhead hazards.
- Only climb the correct side of the ladder, using the treads and not the supports or framework.
If you focus on working carefully and deliberately, avoiding rushing, and keeping these tips in mind, it does make it less likely that you’ll be injured in a fall. However, if you have to work at heights, there’s always some level of inherent risk. Accidents do happen, and it’s important to know what legal steps to take to seek workers’ comp benefits if you’ve been injured on the job.
