Ladder Safety

March 20, 2009 on 1:23 pm | In The Heart of Your Home | No Comments

Originally uploaded by @tak

Spring is here! Now it’s time to get those garden utensils out, dust the old ladder off and start putting them to use. It’s this time of year when the “honey do list” starts building up. The most important thing that most people don’t think about is the proper safety in using a ladder. When not paying attention to your equipment it can be very dangerous and in some cases fatal. Here are a few tips to insure your safety.
1. In climbing up or down a ladder you should keep both hands and one foot or both feet and one hand in touch with the ladder at all times. This is to prevent slipping either way.
2. Unless the ladder is specified for more than one person do not share a ladder with anyone at the same time.
3. It is best not to slide or jump off of a ladder.
4. Make sure the shoes or boots you are wearing have plenty of traction. Also if your foot wear is dirty make sure to clean in between the grooves of the sole of the shoe again to have the most traction possible.
5. When working on projects, get your family involved. Make sure to have a helper in assisting you with the supplies needed to get the job done, so you are not overreaching or continuously climbing up and down the ladder. Sudden movements can cause the ladder to tip.