One of the most common and serious workplace accidents is a fall from a ladder. It could be a three-rung stepladder or a thirty-foot extension ladder. Either way, the fall could cause serious injuries, especially to those who land on their head or neck — a major threat since the body has time to rotate in the air.
Fortunately, these accidents are almost always preventable if employees and employers work together and take the proper steps. Here are a few tips to help you stay safe:
- Get a ladder that is the right height. You never want to go up on the top rungs or the very top of the ladder. If the one you have is too short, do not climb too high, even when feeling pressured by your boss to get done with the job faster. Take the time to find the proper ladder.
- Try to keep three points of contact engaged with the ladder constantly. Only move one foot or one hand up or down at a time. This gives you maximum control and more ability to arrest a fall if you slip.
- Think about the weight limits. If you have to carry tools on your belt and you’re already near the limit, you could go over it. Take these limits seriously.
- Set it up at the proper angle. It will tip backward if it’s too vertical, but it can slide down the building’s face if it’s at too much of an angle. This is why you always want to use ladders that you set up yourself, so that you know they’re perfect.
These tips help, but falls and other accidents do happen. Workers who get injured need to know what legal steps to take.
