Ladder Safety
June 29, 2009 by Katelyn Thomas
Filed under Home & Living
You pull out your extension ladder, stretch it to the very last rung, set it on an uneven spot on the ground and start up the rungs. When you reach the top, you’re still a little short, so you stretch and lean to reach that spot where you want to touch up the paint. The ladder wobbles and you hold your breath. If you crash to the ground and are injured, you’ll be there until your spouse gets home from work. Somehow, you make it down from the ladder in one piece. So, what’s wrong with that scenario? Umm…everything. Boy, were you lucky you made it down!
Photo: SXC
Ladders can be very dangerous, both for the person on them and the person standing under or beside them. To make sure your project doesn’t turn into a disaster, be sure you practice ladder safety.
- Make sure the ladder is set up properly and is not wobbling around.
- Never stand on the top rung of a step ladder or extension ladder.
- If you can’t quite reach, get a longer ladder.
- Never get on a ladder when there isn’t someone around to hold it steady and to call for help if you fall.
You could also add a LEVEL-EZE automatic ladder leveler to your ladder so that you do not have to worry about uneven ground. This is an accessory that can be added to the bottom of your extension ladder and it would automatically level it to uneven ground. This really is a neat concept and everyone should check the website.