Ladder Safety Tips Published July 6, 2011 By Senior Airman Scott Miller Nellis Safety Office NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Whether you have finally found the motivation to take down your holiday lights or you have decided that it is time to paint your house, for one reason or another, many of us will use a ladder in the upcoming months. Using a ladder may not appear to be a dangerous activity, but in an average year, 93,000 people are injured while using a ladder, according to the National Safety Council. In fact, falls are the second leading cause of accidental deaths for Americans after traffic collisions, according to the National Traffic Safety Institute. One way to avoid injury and to work as comfortably, productively and safely as possible, is to select the right ladder for the job and to use the ladder properly. Leading ladder manufacturers classify ladders for home usage in three categories: Type I, Type II and Type III. Type I ladders are designed to support approximately 250 pounds. Type II ladders are designed to support approximately 225 pounds. Type III ladders are designed to support 200 pounds. The most important factors when choosing the right ladder for a job are: type, style, length and the material used to manufacture the ladder. The most common styles of ladders are step and extension. Included in these styles are a variety of ladders with different benefits. For example, the tripod stepladders enhance stability on uneven surfaces and allow access into corners. Twin stepladders allow you to work from either side of the ladder or they let two people work together on the same ladder. Ladders are available in a variety of length options, from the commonly used six-foot ladder to a 40-foot extension ladder, and material options available include wood, aluminum, fiberglass and steel. Here are some other important pieces of information related to ladder safety: -Never paint wooden ladders, as the paint may hide cracks and other defects. -Aluminum ladders are good conductors of electricity, so be sure to keep them away from power lines and do not use them while doing electrical work. -Be cautious when carrying a ladder so you do not accidentally strike another person. -Always place a ladder on a solid, level surface. -A ladder should extend two feet above the object you wish to step onto or work on. -When using an extension ladder, the base of the ladder should be placed a distance away from the surface the ladder is leaning against. This distance should be equal to one fourth of the length between the ground and the place where the top of the ladder is contacting the building or other object.
