Ladder Safety Tips

Ladder Safety

The purpose of this Guide is to explain the proper selection, use, and maintenance of ladders for use in the workplace.   The most common hazard associated with ladders is falling caused by improper use or poorly maintained and/or broken ladders. This Guide is based upon Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Standards 29 CFR 1910.25: Portable Wood Ladders and 1910.26: Portable Metal Ladders.

This Guide applies to all employees who use ladders during the course of their normal job duties and describes the minimum requirements for the selection, setup, use, and care for various types of ladders.

To ensure safety and serviceability, the following shall be observed prior to using a ladder:

• Ladders shall be inspected prior to use, and those which have developed defects or suffered damage such as bent or broken rails, rungs, steps, or fastenings shall be withdrawn from service for repair or destruction and tagged or marked as “Out of Service, Do Not Use.”
• Ladders must have all of the appropriate markings; manufacturer’s labels, use instructions, Type (see section D), and warnings.
• The joint between the rung and side rails shall be tight and all hardware and fittings securely attached.
• Metal bearings of locks, wheels, pulleys, etc., shall be frequently lubricated.
• All accessories such as safety feet, ropes, pulleys, wires, and fastenings shall be kept in good condition and replaced as necessary.
• If a ladder falls or is involved in an accident, inspect the ladder to ensure that it is in good condition and does not have any bent or damaged components.
• If a ladder is exposed to oil and grease, it should be cleaned to ensure adequate traction and a non-slippery surface on the rungs or rails.
• Ladders with defects must be taken out of service until repaired.

This concludes our Ladder Safety Tips for today.

Are there any questions? I got one. Why was there a need to write a manual on ladder safety? Haven’t you always known how to properly use a ladder?

The same goes for customer service. Start with the basics. Everyone has their own opinion on what they believe is good service.

And most of them have never even read the manual.

[five-star-rating]