Ladder Safety

With the arrival of spring many of us will be pulling out our ladders to work on the house and around the yard. Here are some quick notes on ladder safety:

• Select the right ladder for the job you want to do. Remember: do not use aluminum ladders working around electric wires.
• Inspect the ladder before using it.
• Place your ladder at a safe angle. The ladder should be out about one-quarter of the ladder’s height. For example, if you ladder is 16 feet high, then the base of the ladder should be out 4 feet.
• The ladder should extend at least 3 feet above its upper resting point—for example, three feet above the roof.
• Always face your ladder—whether climbing or descending.

Take  that extra minute to think about what you are doing when you set up a ladder. Using a little common sense can help keep you safe.

David Vipond

June 1, 2006