HSE TRAINING LADDER SAFETY

January 2009

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LADDER SAFETY

Whereas all other categories of occupational injury / illness and fatality statistics have improved, falls, and falls from ladders have either stayed constant or gotten worse

In 2007, 132 workers fell to their death from extension ladder accidents

53% off all fall accidents occurred from a height of 10 feet or less - suggesting that not only are employees falling from ladders, they are possibly falling from items they are climbing that were never intended to be a ladder (boxes, chairs, tables, etc)

The majority of accidents occurred in the morning and on Monday

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LADDER SAFETY

Our ultimate goal is to not use ladders - wherever possible we should strive to find better/safer ways of doing the work (i.e. extension tools, dusters, lifts, etc).   

If a ladder is absolutely required to perform the work, it must be authorized and approved by the supervisor, and all safety guidelines must be followed:

Supervisor should assign the worker on the ladder and a person to hold/secure the ladder (or ladder is secured/tied off) Ladder must be pre-inspected before use,and must be in safe working condition – look at rungs, side rails, ladder feet, extend brackets, etc – do not use damaged or defective ladders – tag “Do Not Use”

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LADDER SAFETY

Never step/stand on the top or second step of a step ladder, or top 4 rungs of a straight ladder

Open step ladder fully, and lock the spreaders – ensure ladder is set up on a firm level surface

Use the proper ladder for the height, weight, and task required

Keep the center of your body within the side rails of the ladder - don’t lean out or over-extend - adjust the ladder position

Never move a ladder with someone on it Face the ladder when climbing up or down -

keep both hands free, and maintain 3-point contact at all times (both hands & 1 foot, or both feet and 1 hand) - hoist materials up to you

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LADDER SAFETY

Never use makeshift ladders – stacked boxes, chairs, tables, racks, etc One person at a time on a ladder Stay away from ladders to avoid falling objects – keep areas around top & bottom of ladders clear Don’t use ladders during store hours Don’t use customer’s equipment or tools, etc If the work can not be done safely at that time with that equipment, do not do the work - notify your supervisor immediately who will coordinate another solution No one should be on a ladder if they are not authorized and physically capable of doing so safely

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LADDER SAFETY

Ladders should have a secure footing, and should be lashed in position at top and bottom, or held by a co-worker

Never step on the top 4 rungs of a straight ladder

Use the 4-to-1 rule: for every 4 foot up, move ladder base 1 foot out to create correct pitch angle

When extension ladder is extended, the overlap of the upper and lower sections must be at least 3 feet

Ladders used to gain access to a roof must extend at least 3 feet above the point of support

Never use a metal ladder around electrical equipment, or power lines (use fiberglass or wood)

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LADDER INSPECTION

Pre-inspect the ladder for defects before using it Follow manufacturer’s guidelines for inspection - include

inspections in preventative maintenance schedules – keep ladders clean (no oil/grease etc)

Remove ladders with structural defects, corrosion, or defective parts from service - tag ladders “Do Not Use” if they have any safety defects

Keep ladders secured/barricaded - store ladders in a rack, or chain to wall so that they can not fall over

Ladders must be inspected immediately if it tips over or falls

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SUMMARY OF KEY POINTS

USM’s goal is to not use ladders. If a ladder absolutely must be used, it must be specifically authorized by the supervisor for that specific task, and that specific worker. All ladder safety guidelines must be followed: Ladder must be pre-inspected and must be in safe working condition Never step/stand on the top or second step of a step ladder Use the correct ladder for the height, weight, and type of job being done – never

use a makeshift ladder (boxes, chairs, etc) Never over-reach the ladder – keep the center of your body within the side rails of

the ladder - ladder must be spotted/held by a second worker (or tied off/secured) Open step ladders fully, and lock the spreaders – ensure ladder is set up on a

firm, level surface Don’t use ladder during store hours – don’t use customer’s equipment/tools Use ladders for their intended purpose only (i.e., don't use step ladder as support

for scaffold planks) If the work can not be done safely at that time with that equipment, do not do the

work - notify your supervisor immediately who will coordinate another solution

It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure we do not have any ladder accidents

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QUESTIONS ??

Please feel free to ask any questions about the material we’ve covered…