READ OUR COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE WITH EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE BASIC OF HOW TO USE A LADDER SAFELY IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR QUERY PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GIVE US A CALL ON 01204590232 OR MESSAGE US ON ANY OF OUR SOCIAL MEDIA @LADDERSTORE VIEW OUR HUGE RANGE OF LADDERS HERE!
During the month of May, we held a Facebook competition which asked customers: By working at height standards what is the last rung that is safe to be stood on? The amount of engagement we received was great, but we were slightly concerned with the number of answers that were incorrect. With this in mind, we have put together this handy 101 ladder guide on the basics of using a ladder, along with an info-graphic towards the bottom of the blog post that you can save to your phone or computer to refer to at a later date.
CHECK OUT OUR NEXT POST IN THE LADDER 101 SERIES: THE BASICS OF HOW TO TAKE CARE OF A LADDER
Sensible shoes
When you are going to climb a ladder is it just as important that you make sure you have the correct footwear on. This is because if you don’t feel stable in your footwear then your ladder will not be stable either. The best shoes for use on a ladder are boots, that have anti-slip outsoles with at least half an inch in height for proper rung gripping when standing for a long period.
Climbing and Descending a Ladder
Whether you are climbing or descending a ladder these guidelines should always be followed
- Always face the ladder or stepladder when ascending and descending, never descend with your back towards the ladder
- Always take one rung at a time while maintaining a firm grasp and footing on the ladder.
Never overreach
Never overreach while operating on a ladder. A great tip to make sure you aren't overreaching on a ladder is by making sure that your belt buckle is never outside of the stiles. If you find that you are having to overreach to complete a job always descend the ladder and either:
- Move the ladder closer to the job
- Use a taller ladder or consider a different piece of assessing equipment to safely complete the job.
And please note: No job is ever worth putting yourself in danger for, overreaching is one of the biggest reason for injuries at height.
Always make sure that you have the correct height of the ladder for the job. You should never be standing on the top 3 rungs of an extension, combination or swingback stepladder. The top 3 rungs of the ladder are there for you to be able to lean against while working at height.
Platform and swingback step ladders available here!
Did you find this post useful? Making sure to share with others and leave us a comment letting us know what topic you would like us to cover in a future post.
Check out our next post in the Ladder 101 series: The Basics Of How To Take Care of a Ladder
