
Did you know that using a ladder incorrectly or unsafely causes over 164,000 injuries each year in the United States alone? Many of these are fatal, so how can you keep safe on a ladder? Here are a few important things to keep in mind:
Its essential to make sure your ladder is in a secure position before mounting it. If it feels uneven and wobbly, do not mount it.
Be careful not to place it in the way of a unlocked door, or one that is in constant use.
You may be someone who feels confident on a ladder, but this is the time to be extra careful. Don't skip any rungs on the way up or down. You could very easily loose your balance. It might interest you to learn that the majority of people who die from falling off a ladder, fall from 10 feet or less, so don't become over confident when you are nearing the bottom of the ladder.
It can be annoying to have to constantly move climb up and down the ladder, just to move it a tiny bit, but its very important to do so, as overreaching on a ladder could prove deadly.
Don't leave your ladder unattended while you are using it. It is not advised for someone to use a ladder that they have not secured.
It may seem like an obvious thing, but it can be very tempting to use a ladder for a different purpose than for that which it is intended. Using a ladder for such things as providing a ramp or to hold building materials can be very dangerous.
We want all our clients to be safe when using ladders, please call us with any questions.