What’s with big deal with ladders?
It’s easy, you grab whatever size ladder looks big enough and go for it, right????
Maybe not….
In Adelaide, in 2005 (yes they old ladder injury statistics but the point is)
- 3,486 injury incidents due to a fall from a ladder
- 4 out 5 incidents involved men
- Injuries to the elbow and forearm, knee and lower leg and to the head were the most common
- Two-thirds of those hospitalized for fractures
- Most ladder-related injuries happened in the home
- Ladder-related injury incidents resulted a 5 days of acute hospital care
Know How avoids No- No
No matter the size or type – stepladder or extension ladder- one and using it safely requires a little know-how. Two important things to consider:
- how high
- what’s the ground surface like
EXTENSION LADDERS
As a roof plumber, I typically climb over the eaves of a two-story houses – painting, gutter replacements, roof restorations and roof whirlybird vent installation. A 7.5 metre ( 24′ ) extension ladder is a fair choice for most of these kinds of projects;
If you lean one up against the house – extended all the way, and it’ll probably touch the gutters, no problem. BUT it isn’t the right ladder for getting on the roof.
Only a ladder extended above the roofline makes for easy—and safe—gutter cleaning.
When getting off a ladder on a climb to the roof – the ladder rails should extend a full metre (3’) past the height you’ve climbed. This let you use the ladder rails, so you can hold on to them and have a rung very close to the edge of the roof as you shift between the ladder and roof and back again.
On most two-story homes, this can only be done with a 8.5metre 28′ extension ladder. (This 3′ extension rule also holds true indoors and for shorter heights like one-story places). Truth be told, I usually scaffold for these jobs. It’s just better practice for me.
If you have no plans to get on the roof, a 7.5metre ladder will typically get you to the eaves of a two-story house for painting, window repair, and other items along the sidewall
Tips for Using Extension Ladders
Here are a few of my favorite tips for using extension ladders. For information on the situations and ladders you have, check the manufacturer’s safety information
- Clear clutter and chaos away from the ladder.
- Block off the area around the ladder so people won’t whack you off the ladder.
- If you’re working near to a corner, put a sign/mark to warn people
- If there’s a door near the ladder – lock it, block it or watch it
- Before you use a ladder, check its rating and don’t overload beyond its rating.
How to Move a Ladder
It seems a little contradictory, but I find it easier to carry an extension ladder straight up.
- I slant it up from the ground, putting the ladder on its feet.
- Reach down with one hand to grab the rung below my hip, and up with the other hand to grab the rung above my head,
- Lift and carry the ladder.
then as I’m holding the ladder upright, all I have to do is put the feet down and lean it against the wall.
- Always make sure you map your path—one that’s clear of electrical lines and tree branches—beforehand.
- Before I go anywhere, however, I check out my route and plot my steps. Hitting tree branches is one thing, but smacking the electricity cable is scary, if not deadly.
Ladder Positioning
There’s a simple science to positioning the ladder against a building at the proper angle for optimum safety. If you can stand with your toes at the ladder feet and reach straight out with your hands to touch the rungs with your fingertips, you’ve got the right angle. If not, adjust until you can.
Here’s the technical 4:1 rule
This poster explains it better than I can..afterall..a picture is worth a thousand words
Ladder Angle
The ladder angle’s correct if you can stand with your toes at the feet and, with arms extended, touch the rungs with your fingertips.
On uneven surface, you need to block up one of the ladder’s feet so it’s plumb. The wider and more stable the item (think a concrete paver instead of a brick), the safer you’ll be. There are several ladder-leveling accessories available ( I use them). Remember that whether the ground is level or not, the ladder rungs need to be level.
In wet, muddy ground, kick the ladder’s feet parallel with the rails and drive them into the mud before angling the ladder against the building. (Sometimes you’ll need to lean the ladder on the wall, lift it a little, and roll the feet with your hand.) Some feet have spikes to help them dig in.
Climbing Safety
When you’re on a ladder, follow the zipper rule: Always keep your zipper between the rails. Keeping your zipper between the rails helps keep you balanced and in control.
STEPLADDERS
These bad-boys are the go to tool for DIY and Home Improvers—and one of the most abused. A 1.2 0r 1.m (4′ or 6′) stepladder will get you to the ceiling of an typical home.
Climbing Safety
Avoid danger follow the instructions. The “THIS IS NOT A STEP” rung isn’t meant for climbing.
Safely reaching the top means using the right ladder correctly. Everything you need to be familiar with about your ladder is written on it. Read every sticker—it will help you set up your ladder and use it properly every time.
