Safe Ladder Use
Secure the Ladder
It is necessary to tie the top and bottom of a ladder to fixed points when:
- the ladder doesn't extend 3 feet above the landing,
- it is contacting slippery surfaces; or
- where it could be displaced by work activities or traffic.
Tie both sides of the top of the ladder to a fixed point on the roof or another high surface near where you are working. The bottom should be tied to a fixed point on the ground. Securing the ladder in this way prevents the ladder from sliding side-to-side or falling backward and prevents the base from sliding.
Tying the ladder off at the beginning of the day and untying it at the end of the day will only take you about five minutes. It can make all the difference for your safety. If you need to move the ladder around, allow extra time for this important step or consider using something else, such as a scaffold.
Carrying Tools While Climbing the Ladder
Take precautions when you are going up or down a ladder.
Instead of carrying tools, boards, or other materials in your hands, use a tool belt, install a rope and pulley system, or tie a rope around your materials and pull them up once you have reached the work surface. Ask for help if you need to use more than one hand to pull them up.
Carrying tools or anything else in your hands as you climb the ladder can throw you off balance. When you climb a ladder, always use at least one hand to grasp the ladder when going up or down.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-7. In which of the following situations must a fixed ladder be secured at the top and bottom?
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