Ladder safety

Legislation and construction regulations require that almost every business have a ladder policy in place. The policy should cover: inspection; repair, and disposal. 

If you choose to use a ladder at work, you should do a risk assessment for ladder safety. There is a lot of information available on ladder safety, and it is a serious issue and cause of workplace accidents, and even deaths. 

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has a thorough muli-module review of all facets of ladder safety, which you can access through the link below (click on the CCOHS badge below).

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Do | Don't...

Safe Extension Ladder Use—DO:

• Maintain a 3-point contact (two hands and a foot, or two feet and a hand) when climbing/descending a ladder.
• Face the ladder when climbing or descending.
• Keep the body inside the side rails.
• Use extra care when getting on or off the ladder at the top or bottom.
• Avoid tipping the ladder over sideways or causing the ladder base to slide out.
• Carry tools in a tool belt or raise tools up using a hand line.  Never carry tools in your hands while climbing up/down a ladder.
• Extend the top of the ladder three feet above the landing.
• Keep ladders free of any slippery materials.

​Safe Extension Ladder Use—DON’T:

• Place a ladder on boxes, barrels, or unstable bases.
• Use a ladder on soft ground or unstable footing.
• Exceed the ladder’s maximum load rating.
• Tie two ladders together to make them longer.
• Ignore nearby overhead power lines.
• Move or shift a ladder with a person or equipment on the ladder.
• Lean out beyond the ladder’s side rails.
• Use an extension ladder horizontally like a platform.

In Canada alone, more then 40, 000 workers are injured each year due to falling accidents, often because ladders are in poor condition or not used properly. 
Source: OHS Canada

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Here is a very helpful overview of basic ladder safety. Every employee who uses ladders should be very familiar with ladder safety, and every employer has a duty to review and discuss workplace ladder safety with their employees.