Ladder Safety Resources

Each year there are more than 164,000 emergency room-treated injuries in the U.S. relating to ladders alone. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) offers the following safety precautions to help prevent these ladder injuries.

• Make sure the weight your ladder is supporting does not exceed its maximum load rating (user plus materials). There should only be one person on the ladder at one time.
  
• Use a ladder that is the proper length for the job. Proper length is a minimum of 3 feet extending over the roofline or working surface. The three top rungs of a straight, single or extension ladder should not be stood on.
  
• Straight, single or extension ladders should be set up at about a 75-degree angle.
  
• All metal ladders should have slip-resistant feet.
  
• Metal ladders will conduct electricity. Use a wooden or fiberglass ladder in the vicinity of power lines or electrical equipment. Do not let a ladder made from any material contact live electric wires.
  
• Be sure to use ladder lock safety on extension ladders.
  
• The ground under the ladder should be level and firm. Large flat wooden boards braced under the ladder can level a ladder on uneven ground or soft ground. A good practice is to have a helper hold the bottom of the ladder.
  
• Do not place a ladder in front of a door that is not locked, blocked or guarded.
  
• Keep your body centered between the rails of the ladder at all times. Do not lean too far to the side while working.