How to properly secure a ladder when in use(2)

So, suppose you have found the perfect position-firm, level and stable (and the safety feet are in place). You have set the ladder to the proper 4:1 ratio (if it is a straight/extended ladder, otherwise you have fully opened and locked the a-frame). You are very happy, right? Well, it depends (and isn't this always the case?). The next step is to look around the bottom of the ladder. Are there debris, materials, tools, hoses, wires, or anything else that might cause a trip hazard? When climbing close to a ladder, the messy ground is dangerous enough, but this is especially true for people who climb down from the ladder. Although the person going down the ladder should look at the ground, any trip hazard from the base must still be cleared.

3. Top

Now that you are on a firm, level, stable surface, the safety feet are intact, and there is a clear area around your base, we will jump all the way to the top. If the lateral movement of the ladder causes you to fall, it will not come from you at the bottom, or it may not come from you being in the middle. It will most likely happen when you go to the top.

So, how do we ensure that this situation does not happen? Even with a perfect surface, your weight and movement can cause problems (we assume you haven't even used tools to overload yourself, causing you to exceed the limit of the ladder). There are a few things that can help, the most important of which is that you need to fix the top every time you set up a ladder. This should not be done using the ladder's own lanyard. This should not be done by tying something at the bottom or in the middle of the ladder. This requires fixing the top of the ladder to the structure you are climbing by using additional ladder hooks, or by other means. Assuming this is done well, the ladder should not move at all. However, it is not always possible to find something to fix the ladder. In these cases, you need to use a ladder stabilizer. The device is connected to the top of the ladder, making the area where the ladder contacts the structure wider and therefore more stable.

One last thought on the top. Many ladder accidents occur when a higher-level worker tries to install a ladder while descending. The ladder may be kicked out, moved laterally, or workers may lose their footing or balance when trying to bypass the side rails. Using a simple ladder extension can easily reduce this exposure. Remember, although we have been using ladders since we were young, they are not toys. If you only learn about ladders through statistics, you will think that they are highly dangerous tools that will bring huge risks to users. Don't be part of these statistics, treat the ladder setting with due respect.