The more you work on a ladder, the more likely you are to assume that you’ll always be safe. Even with many years of experience, it only takes a minor mistake when using a ladder to cause a serious accident.
Here are five ladder safety tips to follow at all times:
- Inspect the ladder before use: If you recognize any type of safety hazards, such as corrosion and cracks, move the ladder out of the way and mark it as damaged.
- Find firm and level ground: Placing your ladder on uneven and/or soft ground increases the risk of it tipping.
- Maintain three points of contact: Make it a habit to have three points of contact on the ladder at all times. This includes one foot and two hands, or two feet and one hand.
- Don’t set the ladder near traffic: This includes both pedestrian and vehicular traffic, as a small bump is all it takes to knock you off a ladder.
- Never carry a heavy load: It may be okay to carry lighter tools on a ladder, but never carry anything that could cause you to lose your balance.
Even if you follow these ladder safety tips, there’s no guarantee that you’ll never suffer an injury on the job.
If you’re injured in any type of accident, report it to your employer, call for medical assistance and maintain thorough records of what went wrong.
Depending on your diagnosis and prognosis, you may not be able to immediately return to work. This should lead you to file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits.