A ladder is a piece of equipment owned by many, but fully understood by few. To ensure your safety, we’ve assembled this list of the five most important considerations when using ladders.
Physical Capability
It may not seem like strenuous exercise, but climbing a ladder demands good physical condition. Therefore, before you can think about the safety of the equipment, you must first consider your own condition.
If your grip strength and balance aren’t up to scratch, you run the risk of injury. You may also need to factor in your weight, as we’ll explain next.
The Right Ladder
Ladders, like people, come in all shapes and sizes, and it’s important to keep in mind the right ladder for the job. Ladders may not even be the best choice, with the situation necessitating scaffolding towers.
PASMA courses can provide great insight into these choices, detailing the right and safe approaches. You can find PASMA courses from a variety of providers.
Ladders can range from light-duty up to special-duty, with each iteration in between bearing more and more weight. Even if you do not weigh more than the working load, you also need to account for any equipment you’re bringing up with you. Information on specific ladder types can be found here on the ladder advice website.
Placement
Ladders should always be on a flat, stable surface to ensure you don’t lose your balance. The surrounding area should be unobstructed, and ladders should be held by someone or bolstered by rigid equipment (sandbags, for example).
Three Points of Contact
Returning to the earlier point on carrying equipment, it’s vital that you keep at least three points of contact with a ladder at all times. Climbing hands-free puts you at tremendous risk, and there will always be alternatives for moving equipment.
The 1:4 Ratio
Our final recommendation is the 1:4 or 4:1 ratio, which simply means that for every 4m of height, you position the ladder’s base 1m from the structure. You don’t need a tape measure for this, just a good eye. Unless the ladder is wall-mounted, you never want to climb a vertical ladder.