Ladders are a major source of injuries, so it's important to follow safety regulations and guidelines to prevent falls and other incidents. Incidents usually involve using the wrong or defective ladder, improper setup, or inadequate training. [7]

Here are key safety areas:

Inspection Procedures:

• Inspect ladders promptly upon receipt and before each use.
• Inspect ladders that have been dropped or have fallen before using them again.
• Inspect ladders before storing to ensure they are in good condition, need repair, or need replacement.
• Look for missing or loose steps or rungs, damaged or worn non-slip feet, loose nails, screws, bolts, or nuts, and worn, loose, or faulty spreaders, locks, and other metal parts in poor repair.
• Check for rot, decay, or warped rails in wooden ladders, cracks and exposed fiberglass in fiberglass ladders, and cracked, split, worn, or broken rails, braces, steps, or rungs.
• Look for sharp edges on rails and rungs, rough or splintered surfaces, corrosion, rust, oxidization and excessive wear, especially on treads, and twisted or distorted rails.
• Ensure there are no missing identification labels.
• For stepladders, check for wobble, loose or bent hinges and hinge spreaders, broken stop on a hinge spreader, and loose pail shelf.
• For extension ladders, check for loose, broken, or missing extension locks, defective locks that do not set properly when the ladder is extended, sufficient lubrication of working parts, defective cords, chains and ropes and missing or defective pads or sleeves.

[5] [5] [6] [6] [6] [6] Fall Protection:

• When working 3 metres (10 feet) or more above ground, a fall protection program may be necessary.
• A safety belt or harness with the lanyard should be tied appropriately to the structure.
• Follow working at heights training that includes how to use fall protection devices safely.
• Maintain a 3-point contact (two hands and a foot, or two feet and a hand) when climbing/ descending a ladder.
• Keep the body inside the side rails.

[2] [10] Load Capacity:

• Use a ladder that can sustain at least four times the maximum intended load, except that each extra-heavy duty type 1A metal or plastic ladder shall sustain at least 3.3 times the maximum intended load.
• Consider your weight plus the weight of your load to determine the correct ladder.
• Do not exceed the load rating and always include the weight of all tools, materials, and equipment.
• Stepladders are meant for one person, do not overload.

[4] [4] [3] General Ladder Safety:

• Place ladders on a firm, level surface and ensure the footing is secure.
• Erect extension ladders so that the upper section rests on the bottom section.
• Place the ladder feet so that the horizontal distance between the feet and the top support is 1/4 of the working length of the ladder.
• Raise and lower ladders from the ground and ensure that locking ladder hooks are secure before climbing.
• For access to an elevated work surface, erect ladders so that a minimum of 1 m (3 ft) extends above a landing platform and tie the top at support points.
• Brace or tie off the ladder near the base, or use a stake in the ground if there is no structure to tie off to.
• Set up barricades and warning signs when using a ladder in a doorway or passageway.
• Do not use ladders near power lines and keep ladders and other tools at least 10 feet away from power lines.
• Return ladders to the storage area after use and store ladders where they are protected from the weather and where people or machinery will not come in contact with it unintentionally.
• When portable ladders are used for access to an upper landing surface, the ladder side rails shall extend at least 3 feet (.9 m) above the upper landing surface to which the ladder is used to gain access.
• Ladders shall be maintained free of oil, grease, and other slipping hazards.

[1] [1] [1] [2] [2] [2] [2] [2] [8] [9] [9] By following these guidelines, you can reduce the risk of ladder-related accidents and injuries.