Ladders come in many sizes and shapes for many specific purposes, as
pictured in Figure
. They can be
made of wood, aluminum, or fiberglass and are designed for either light or
industrial use. The two most common types are straight ladders and stepladders.
Regardless of the type or construction, be sure the ladder has a label
certifying that it complies with specifications of the American National
Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
More
than 30,000 people in the United States are injured each year by falls
involving ladders. Most of these accidents occur because people do not follow
the basic rules of ladder safety:
- Select the right ladder for the job.
- Inspect the ladder.
- Set the ladder properly and safely. Sample values for different heights are
shown in Figure
.
- Climb and descend safely. Climbing too high can also lead to accidents.
- Work on the ladder safely.
- Secure the area around the ladder. Cordon off the work area with
appropriate markers like the traffic cones shown in Figure
or caution tape,
as shown in Figure
. Lock or block
any nearby door that opens inside.