Ladder Safety 1 of 2

Ladder Safety 1 of 2

By way of brief definition Ladder is a structure consisting of a series of bars or steps between two upright lengths of wood, metal, rope, used for climbing up or down, it provides means of advancement in a hierarchical structure.

Ladder is an essential workplace tool for anyone working above ground level. However, each year, people are injured while using ladders. Anyone who uses the wrong ladder for a job or uses it inappropriately is involving in at-risk behavior and calling for trouble, do not become a statistic.

Below are some common mistakes while constructing ladders:

1.     Materials that lack resistance.

2.     Non-ergonomic dimensions(step distance)

3.     Non Proper ladder installation.

4.     Non ideal protection barrier dimensions

It is not enough to have a great engineering product, like lanyards or vertical lifelines because accidents can occur if the equipment like the ladder is not installed properly. It’s important to know and be aware that if a ladder is not designed and installed correctly not even the best safety equipment will protect the user from an accident.

Therefore, ladders should have the required resistance to support the daily weight of the user and the materials handled. It is also important that ladders are made of materials which mechanic resistance is enough to support the activities and materials. The anchorage should be enough to support workers on a daily basis and be protected from the environment or any element that may harm the material. Users should know that ladders are not work platforms.

However, in constructing ladders, the basic minimum rules should be observed:

·         The distance between steps should not be greater than 38 cm.

·         The distance between the steps and the most proximate objects should be greater than 75cm.

·         In the backside of the step there should be a minimum free distance of 20 cm.

·         There should be a free minimum distance of 18cm from the edge of the step to the nearest object at right or left side of ladder.

Some ladders are designs to include cylindrical mesh that protects the ascending area.

Employers should formulate a checklist which can used to evaluate risk zones in which the user is exposed and to identify possible failures that might occur in the work area. This check list should also cover ladder integrity and used safety. It is important to identify the risks that surround the work area and to provide solutions to eliminate accidents.

We have all worked with ladders at some time in our lives, either at work or at home. The following are some tips that may make your interaction with ladders less hazardous:

Before using a ladder, inspect it for faults, such as broken rungs or rails. If it is an extension ladder, inspect the pulleys, ropes and locks for excessive wear. Also, check the footings and pads to make sure they still provide a non-skid surface. If any defect is found, the ladder should be tagged unsafe and taken out of service. If it cannot be fixed, make sure it is disposed of properly.

To be continued