Safe Ladder Use
Ladder Angle
A non-self-supporting ladder should have a set-up angle of about 75 degrees - a 4:1 ratio of the ladder's working length to set-back distance.
Here's how to do it: Lean the ladder up against the landing. Stand at the base of the ladder with your toes touching the rails. Extend your arms straight out in front of you. If the tips of your finger just touch the rung nearest your shoulder level, the angle of your ladder has a 4:1 ratio.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has developed an easy-to-use interactive ladder safety application for smartphones. The NIOSH Ladder Safety application features a multimodal indicator, which uses visual and sound signals to assist the user in positioning an extension ladder at an optimal angle. Furthermore, the application provides graphic-oriented interactive reference materials, safety guidelines and checklists for extension ladder selection, inspection, accessorizing, and use. The application is intended to help a wide range of ladder users, employers, and safety professionals with their ladder-related safety needs.
Here is a link to download the NIOSH Ladder Safety App for Androids and Apple iOS:
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2-5. What is the ratio of a non-supporting ladder's working length to set-back distance?
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