Ladder Safety An Introduction to Ladder Safety Awareness

1
Ladder SafetyAn Introduction to Ladder Safety
Awareness
2
Ladder Safety

• In the United States, one person almost every day
  of the year is killed by
• falling from a ladder approximately 300 deaths
  and 130,000 serious injuries.
• Probably hadnt thought much about it, huh? After
  all, ladders are one of
• those tools we use every day and take for
  granted.Yet, if a falling accident
• occurs from a ladder, the chances are excellent
  the accident will result in
• injury or death.
• Besides the expense of Workers Compensation
  Claims, the really
• important issue is the pain and suffering a fall
  injury may bring - to you as a
• victim, or to your survivors - and the lost
  productive time to your employer.
• Fortunately, almost all falls are preventable
  if the fundamentals of ladder
• construction, use and safety are understood.

3
Ladder Safety

• How long does it take you to fall? Many workers
  believe that they have time
• to regain their balance before they fall.
  However, this belief is usually untrue.
• The following table shows how far you can fall in
  different time spans
• Time (Seconds) Distance (feet)
• 0.5 4
• 1.0 16
• 1.5 36
• 2.0 64
• 2.5 100
• 3.0 144
• 4.0 256
• Two snaps of the fingers, and a 150 person has
  fallen 64 feet and if stopped
• there, crashes with an estimated impact force of
  4800 - more than enough
• to break a lot of otherwise healthy bones! Makes
  you appreciate the
• seriousness of the sudden stop at the bottom!

4
Ladder Safety

• There are several kinds of ladders designed for
  different uses
• Short 2-3 step step-stools or short folding
  ladders are just the thing for getting items off
  that high shelfor just the edge you need to
  paint the wall all the way to the ceiling.
• Folding step ladders come in all sizes from 3
  to 20 or so. Folding ladders are the most stable
  and safest laddersif used correctly!
• Extension ladders range from about 16 to the
  hydraulic behemoths mounted on fire trucks.
  Extension ladders are safe if properly maintained
  and used correctly.

5
Ladder Safety

• Straight ladders are fixed length ladders used
  for specific tasks requiring relatively short
  lengths (lt 20ft.)
• Fixed ladders are ladders that are constructed as
  integral parts of structures or equipment, such
  as large storage tanks, process equipment,
  industrial facilities, or smoke chimneys.
• Ladders have very specific OSHA requirements
  governing their
• construction and the safety equipment that must
  be used in order to climb
• them safely.

6
Ladder Safety

• For all their apparent simplicity, two primary
  hazards are associated with the
• use of ladders. The hazards are
• Falls (and the sudden stop at the bottom!)
• Electrical hazards
• Electrocution
• Shocks (often with resulting falls with sudden
  stops at the bottom!)
• In this course, you will learn how ladders are
  designed and constructed,
• how to use portable ladders safety. You will also
  learn about the safety
• equipment necessary to safely climb fixed ladders
  at industrial facilities.
• As in any knowledge-based course, the development
  of hands-on skills in
• the deployment, use and maintenance of fall
  arrest equipment is essential
• before climbing industrial fixed ladders.

7
Portable Ladders
8
Ladder Safety
Portable ladders and electricity Right up front,
the student should understand that portable
ladders (of any type) and electricity truly do
not mix! Portable ladders are difficult to handle
and can easily accidentally break lighting and
other power fixtures. Worse, portable ladders
used outdoors can contact elevated high tension
supply lines by accident resulting in
electrocution. In many cases, conductive ladders
do not have to contact the line they can merely
come sufficiently close to it to cause a short
circuit through the ladder to ground.
Do not use metal (or wet) ladders when working
near power-lines or fixtures. Keep all ladders at
least ten feet away from residential power-lines
and much further away from larger power-lines.
9
Ladder Safety

• Portable ladder construction
• Portable ladders come in many lengths and
  essentially one of three different
• construction materials
• Wood
• Aluminum or steel
• Fiberglass
• They range from small step-stool models to
  truck mounting extension
• ladders for fire fighting. Portable ladders are
  manufactured in essentially
• three configurations
• Straight ladders
• Extension ladders
• Step-ladders

10
Ladder Safety

• There are also three different weight-bearing
  standards for portable
• ladders
• Type 1A Industrial heavy duty 300 (OSHA
  requires safety factor of 3.3X _at_75.5 deg.)
• Type I Industrial heavy duty to 250 (OSHA
  requires 4X safety factor _at_ 75.5 deg.)
• Type II Commercial Medium-duty to 225 (OSHA
  requires 4X safety factor _at_ 75.5 deg.)
• Type III Household light duty to 200 (OSHA
  requires 4X safety factor _at_ 75.5 deg.)

11
Ladder Safety

• Straight ladders
• Straight ladders are used for repetitive climbing
  to a relatively fixed height.
• For example, fruit picking ladders are usually
  fixed ladders because fruit
• trees of various types rarely exceed a
  characteristic height.
• Straight ladders may be of wood, metal or
  fiberglass construction. Most are
• wood or metal. Straight ladders are usually
  constructed of solid wood or
• metal rails joined with rungs.
• The rungs in a wood ladder are usually hickory,
  oak, ash or other hardwood
• to provide the maximum strength for the weight.
  Rails are usually fir,
• hemlock or similar softer woods that are much
  lighter.
• Metal ladder rungs are either welded to the rails
  or attached with expansion
• plugs.

12
Ladder Safety

• In either case, only the attachment of the rungs
  to the rails holds the ladder
• together. This means that loose or broken rungs
  must be repaired before the
• ladder is used or the ladders structural
  integrity is jeopardized.
• Straight ladders may also be constructed of wood
  or metal trusses in the
• place of solid rails. Trusses offer significant
  weight advantages while
• providing equal structural strength.

A
B
Straight ladders are heavy in longer lengths and
not convenient to transport. Straight ladders are
often replaced by extension laddersa more
adaptable form of ladder. Figure 1A illustrates a
straight ladder, while figure 1B illustrates an
extension ladder.
Figure 1 A B
13
Ladder Safety

• Extension ladders
• Extension ladders essentially combine straight
  ladder sections with an
• interlocking rail system, and mechanisms to
  extend the ladder from the
• ground to its working height and lock it in
  position. The extension section is
• called the fly section, the lower section is
  the base.
• Extension ladders can be built of wood, aluminum,
  steel or fiberglass.
• Almost all are made of wood, aluminum or
  fiberglass, with aluminum and
• fiberglass the most common materials in recent
  years. Both aluminum and
• fiberglass offer significant advantages over
  wood.
• Fly sections usually extend using a system of
  pulleys and a rope. The
• pulleys run on ball bearings to make them easy to
  use, and the rope may be
• either natural manila or a synthetic rope. Manila
  is preferred in fire service
• applications because it doesnt burn easily and
  doesnt melt or elongate
• when exposed to heat as synthetics do. However,
  it must be replaced
• regularly.

14
Ladder Safety

• Extension ladder locking mechanisms are usually
  either gravity activated
• automatic catches that rest on a base section
  rung and are locked in place
• when weight is placed on the ladder, or spring
  loaded catches.
• Most extension ladders are made of aluminum.
  Aluminum is relatively light
• and very strong for its weight. Aluminum also
  bends before it breaks and
• that provides an additional safety margin.
• But aluminum conducts heat and electricity very
  readily making aluminum
• dangerous to use around electrical and heat
  hazards. In addition, aluminum
• used in ladder construction is heated to about
  6000 F. to increase the
• strength of the aluminum. If aluminum ladders are
  exposed to heat in
• excess of 6000 F. (as in a fire scenario) they
  may be unable to bear even the
• weight of a man.

15
Ladder Safety

• Many extension ladders are made of fiberglass.
  Fiberglass is very strong
• and heat tolerant. It does not conduct heat
  quickly, nor does it conduct
• electricity when dry. Fiberglass ladders made of
  self-extinguishing polymers
• do not burn except when directly exposed to
  flame. They lose strength
• comparatively slowly.
• Fiberglass is much heavier than aluminum and
  breaks suddenly when over-
• stressed. Also, fiberglass ladders need to be
  protected with a lacquer
• coating to prevent oxidation damage.
• This combination of properties, however, makes
  fiberglass ladders the
• ladders of choice for electrical or fire control
  work.
• Wooden extension ladders are rarely used these
  days. They used to be the
• ladders of choice for electrical and fire work
  because wood is non-
• conductive and for ladder purposes,
  fire-resistant. However, the
• maintenance requirements for wood ladders have
  made them obsolete for
• most applications.

16
Ladder Safety

• Extension ladders must be rigorously maintained.
  Extension pulleys and
• locking mechanisms must be oiled occasionally.
  Extension ropes must be
• replaced when worn, frayed or deteriorated.
  Locking mechanisms must be
• inspected and their ability to lock and secure
  properly must be ascertained.
• Candle wax is the lubricant used to lubricate the
  rails where they slide
• against each other.
• In all cases, the locking mechanisms for both
  rails must be properly and
• securely locked before climbing the ladder.
• Many extension ladders, and some fixed ladders
  have spurs attached to
• the rail bottoms to help stabilize the ladder in
  soil. However, the spurs do
• not work on hard surfaces such as concrete and
  must be replaced with
• non-slip rubber pads. Many ladders have swiveling
  feet allowing rubber
• pads or spurs to be selected based on the type of
  support surface.

17
Ladder Safety

• Straight and extension ladders are constructed to
  resist the force of gravity
• directed downward. Theoretically, a ladder is
  strongest when it is in the
• vertical (900) position relative to the surface
  it is on. However, vertical
• ladders are not safe to climb, unless they are
  secured in some manner, so a
• stable angle is used to weight-rate
  ladders75-760 relative to the support
• surfacea slope of 4/1.
• Therefore the most stable angle for a portable
  ladder is approximately 750 or
• a 4/1 slope. In setting up a portable ladder the
  base should be one foot from
• the wall or other vertical support for every four
  feet of vertical height.
• The reference height used to calculate the angle
  to set up a ladder is the
• height of the vertical support surfacenot the
  length of the ladder.

18
Ladder Safety

• Note in figure 2 that A represents the
• distance from the base of the ladder to the
• top support surface for the ladder, and that
• the distance from a vertical line between the
• base support surface (the ground in this
• case) to the top support surface is ¼ of A.
• For example, if a wall is 12 high, A
• approximately 126 and the base of the
• ladder should be approximately 3 6 from the
• base of the wall.
• Also note the extra three feet of ladder
• beyond the support surface. If a climber is
• leaving the ladder for the support surface, ie,
• a roof, OSHA requires the ladder to be a
• minimum of A3 in length.

Figure 2
19
Ladder Safety

• Some safety pointers for using straight and
  extension ladders
• Keep your belt buckle between the rails!
• Keeping your belt buckle between the rails means
  that you have not
• extended your weight far over one rail causing
  the ladder to over-
• balance, slip and fall.
• Never hand carry loads up a ladder!
• If tools or supplies are required, carry them in
  your pocket, in a tool
• belt, or lift them from the ground in a line.
• Always use a three-point stance!
• One hand and both feet on the ladder both
  hands and one foot on the ladder. If you must
  work with both hands, hook one leg over a rung
  to hold and support you.

20
Ladder Safety

• Never stand on the ladders top three rungs!
• Its easy to overbalance and fall off.
• Never use a ladder that is damaged or weakened!
• Never walk a ladder into position while you are
  on it!
• Climb down and re-position the ladder from the
  ground.
• Use care around electrical fixtures!
• You can get an electrical shock on any ladder,
  but dry fiberglass
• and wood ladders do not normally conduct
  electricity. Using
• aluminum ladders around electrical fixtures can
  result in
• electrocution.

21
Ladder Safety

• Never use a ladder in front of a door unless it
  is locked, blocked or guarded!
• Never use a ladder in a strong wind!
• Never have more than one person on a ladder at
  one time!
• Never carry a ladder in the vertical position.
  Carry a ladder in the horizontal only.
• Never jump from a ladder!
• Be certain you are in good enough physical
  condition to climb!
• Includes not being under the influence of alcohol
  or drugs that
• make you dizzy, drowsy or subject you to fainting.

22
Ladder Safety

• Make sure ladders are kept free of oils, greases
  or other contaminants that may cause slipping!
• Use ladders only for their intended purpose!
• Ladders are not bridges. If you need to bridge a
  gap with a ladder, a
• whole different load bearing analysis must be
  done to ensure
• safety.
• Secure ladders subject to displacement by other
  inadvertent workplace activities!
• Keep areas around tops and bottoms or ladders
  clear!
• Do not move shift or extend ladders while in use!

23
Ladder Safety

• Ensure the ladder is in good condition!
• Ensure the ladder can handle the weight!
• Raise a straight or extension ladder by placing
  the base of the ladder against a wall or other
  resistance, then, beginning with the top rung
  walk the ladder up to vertical. Rest it on the
  upper support, then move the base out to the
  proper location

24
Ladder Safety
3. Raise ladder starting at the top rung.
1. Transport ladder horizontally.
2. Place base of ladder against base of wall or
block.
750
5. Pull the base of the ladder back until the
ladder is 750 relative to the bases support
surface.
4. Raise ladder to vertical position. Hold with
one hand and grasp lower rung with other hand.
Figure 3
25
Ladder Safety

• Step Ladders
• Step ladders are self-supporting ladders used to
  work where either there are
• no upper supporting structures or its not
  desirable to use an upper
• supporting structure for example, when painting
  a wall or ceiling.
• Step-ladders have four rails connected by rungs
  (on the working side) and
• by braces on the opposite side. The rungs and
  braces may be individually
• braced or otherwise reinforced. The working-side
  rails are connected to the
• support rails by a solid platform with a pivot or
  hinge at the top, and folding
• metal tie-rods that prevent the front and back
  rails from separating more
• than 750 while locking to prevent accidental
  folding. Step-ladders may or
• may not have folding shelves attached to support
  paint cans or tools.
• The tie-rods can be unlocked and the step-ladder
  can be folded for
• horizontal transport in the same manner as a
  straight or extension ladder.

26
Ladder Safety

• Step-ladders may be made of wood,
• aluminum or fiberglass. Aluminum
• Step-ladders have the advantages of
• high strength to weight and the
• malleable properties of aluminum
• that allow it to bend before it breaks.
• Aluminum step-ladders have the
• same disadvantages of being highly
• conductive for electricity and heat,
• and have the same strength
• reduction if exposed to heat over
• 6000 F.
• Aluminum step-ladders usually do
• not exceed 20 in height.

Figure 4 Step-ladder
27
Ladder Safety

• Wood step-ladders are made differently from wood
  straight or extension
• ladders. Rungs on wood step-ladders are seated in
  dadoes (grooves) in the
• rails and the rails are held firmly together by
  threaded steel rods underneath
• the rung. It is very important that the nuts on
  the threaded rods stay tight.
• Tight rods allow weight placed on the rungs to be
  supported by the surfaces
• of the dadoes in the rails without slipping. If
  the rods are not tight, the rails
• may separate allowing the rung to slip out of the
  rail.
• Wood step-ladders are typically lighter
  construction than wood straight or
• extension ladders and are usually limited to
  relatively short lengths
• normally less than 12 in height. Because of
  this, using wood step-ladders
• on firm level surfaces is especially important!
  Forces must be applied
• properly to wood step-ladders to prevent breakage
  of the ladder.

28
Ladder Safety

• Fiberglass step-ladders are strong, durable and
  non-conductive of heat and
• electricity. They should be chosen for use where
  there are heat or electrical
• hazards. However, they are heavier and may be
  more difficult to use than
• aluminum ladders.
• Use step-ladders on level surfaces!
• While straight ladders must be placed on level
  footing, the area of level
• footing required for safe use of a step ladder is
  much larger. All four feet
• must be on a firm level surface to use a
  step-ladder safely. How much level
• surface is required varies in direct proportion
  to the length of the ladder.
• Long step-ladders 16-20 feet - require large
  flat level areas.
• Using a step-ladder with one or more feet
  improperly supported may result
• in a fall. If it does not result in a fall, and
  it used regularly in that manner, it
• will result in twisting of the ladder frame and
  eventual loosening of the
• rungs and braces potentially reducing the service
  life of the ladder.

29
Ladder Safety
1. Carry ladder horizontally
2. Stand the ladder up vertically.
3. Step to the side facing the side of the
ladder. Rest the ladder on the main rail feet.
Grasp the main rail with one hand, and the rear
rail with the other hand. Spread the rails apart.
5. Climb!
4. Lock the side rail tie-bar /braces in the
horizontal position. The ladder should look like
the letter A.
Figure 5 Setting up a step-ladder
30
Ladder Safety

• The general safety rules for step-ladders are
  similar for the safety rule for
• straight and extension ladders.
• Keep your belt buckle between the rails!
• Keeping your belt buckle between the rails means
  that you have not
• extended your weight far over one rail causing
  the ladder to over-
• balance, slip and fall.
• Never hand carry loads up a ladder!
• If tools or supplies are required, carry them in
  your pocket, in a tool
• belt, or lift them from the ground in a line.
• Always use a three-point stance!
• One hand and both feet on the ladder both
  hands and one foot on the ladder. If you must
  work with both hands, hook one leg over a rung
  to hold and support you.

31
Ladder Safety

• Never stand on the ladders top rung or top
  platform!
• Its easy to overbalance and fall off.
• Never stand on the braces on the back of the
  ladder, on the tool/paint shelf, or on the rail
  tie-bar/ side-braces!
• These structures are not designed to hold your
  weight.
• Never use a ladder that is damaged or weakened!
• Never use a ladder in front of a door unless it
  is locked, blocked or guarded!
• Never have more than one person on a ladder at
  one time!
• Never use a step-ladder when all four feet are
  not firmly and equally supported!

32
Ladder Safety

• Make sure ladders are kept free of oils, greases
  or other contaminants that may cause slipping!
• Never jump from a ladder!
• Ensure the ladder can handle the weight!
• Never use a wet ladder for jobs with electrical
  hazards!
• Used properly and safely, step-ladders are safe
  and useful tools.

33
Key Point Review

• Portable ladders are normally one of three types
• Straight
• Extension
• Step-ladders
• Portable ladders are normally constructed on one
  of three materials
• Wood
• Aluminum
• Fiberglass
• Wood ladders are difficult to maintain and have a
  limited service life. They are used less than
  they used to be.
• Aluminum ladders are light-weight,
  maintenance-free, strong for their weight and
  bend before they break. Aluminum ladders are good
  general service ladders unless exposure to heat
  or electricity is expected.
• Fiberglass ladders are strong, durable and
  relatively stable to heat and electricity. They
  are good general service ladders but are somewhat
  heavy.

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References

• Baker, David E. and Lee, Rusty, Portable Ladder
  Safety, University of Missouri Cooperative
  Extension Service, National Ag Safety Database at
  http//www.cdc.gov/nasd/docs/d000801-d000900/d0008
  77/d000877.html
• Climb it Safe, American Academy of Orthopedic
  Surgeons at http//orthoinfo.aaos.org/brochure/thr
  _report.cfm?thread_id20topcategoryInjury20Prev
  ention
•  
• Construction Worker Killed by Fall From Ladder
  Washington State, Washington State Department of
  Labor and Industries investigation 98WA08601,
  March 16,2000 at http//www.cdc.gov/niosh/face/sta
  teface/wa/98wa086.html
• Cyr, Dawna L., and Johnson, Steven B., Ladders,
  Lifting and Falls (bulletin 2326), Maine Farm
  Safety Program, University of Maine Cooperative
  Extension Service, National Ag Safety Database at
  http//www.cdc.gov/nasd/docs/d000801-d000900/d0008
  26/d000826.html
• Fall Protection Equipment, Lab Safety Supply,
  Inc. Document 130 _at_ http//www.labsafety.com/refi
  nfo/ezfacts/ezf130.htm
•  
• Fixed Access Ladders, Canadian Centre For
  Occupational Health and Safety at
  http//www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/safety_haz/ladders/
  fixed.html?oe

54
References

•  Fixed Ladders, 29 CFR 1910.27, U.S. Department
  of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health
  Administration (OSHA) at http//www.osha.gov/pls/o
  shaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_tableSTANDARDSp_i
  d9719
• Guidelines on Ladder Safety, University of
  Sidney (Australia) Risk Management Office at
  http//www.usyd.edu.au/risk/policies/ohs/ladders.s
  html
• Hazards of Working from Fixed Ladders on Tanks,
  Workers Compensation Board of British Columbia
  at http//www.worksafebc.com/publications/health_a
  nd_safety_information/bulletins/worksafe/assets/pd
  f/ws0503.pdf
• Ladder Safety, DUO Safety Ladder Corporation at
  http//www.wfrfire.com/website/articles/ladsafe.ht
  m
•  
• Ladder Safety, Regulatory Training Center at
  http//www.rtc4safety.com/ladder_safety.htm
•  
• Ladders and Powerlines, Dominion Power at
  http//www.dom.com/about/safety/ladders.jsp
• Personal Fall Protection Equipment, Workers
  Compensation Board of British Columbia at
  http//www.worksafebc.com/publications/Health_and_
  Safety_Information/by_topic/assets/pdf/fall_protec
  tion.pdf

55
References

•  Stairways and Ladders, U.S. Department of
  Labor, Occupational Safety and Health
  Administration (OSHA) at http//www.osha.gov/doc/o
  utreachtraining/htmlfiles/stairlad.html
• Training Module Proper use of ladders,
  Agricultural Tailgate Safety Training, Ohio State
  University Cooperative Extension Service,
  National Ag Safety Database at http//www.cdc.gov/
  nasd/docs/d001701-d001800/d001706/d001706.pdf

56
Key Point Review

• Straight and extension ladders may have spurs
  on the feet to prevent slippage in soils, or
  rubber pads to prevent slippage on smooth
  surfaces. Newer ladders may have the two types of
  feet combined and interchangeable through a pivot
  arrangement.
• Step-ladders require firm level surfaces for safe
  use.
• The most stable angle for a ladder is
  approximately 750 from horizontal.
• Keeping the belt buckle between the rails
  effectively keeps the climbers weight centered
  on the ladder and prevents over-balancing.
• All ladders must be kept in good condition,and
  must not be used if they are not in good
  condition.
• All ladders must be kept dry and free of oils and
  greases that may cause slips and falls.
• Straight or extension ladders used to access a
  roof or elevated deck must extend at least three
  feet above the roof or deck in order to provide
  the necessary hand grip surface to enter and exit
  the ladder safely.
• Ladders must be inspected regularly for loose
  rungs or defective rails or braces. All
  mechanical hardware must be maintained in good
  operating condition. Threaded rods on wood
  step-ladders must be kept tight.