Don't Take Chances with Your Safety!

The LADDER:

One of the most dangerous and frequently misused tools at the jobsite.

Oh. My.

You’ve seen it before. You may have chuckled a bit, shaking your head at the bravado of the risktaker upon the rungs. You may have scolded them, hoping to persuade them to put an end to their risky business. Or you may have even been the one atop the ladder, gambling your personal safety for the sake of time, convenience, or the cost of the right ladder or scaffolding system for the job. Looking back, was it worth it?

Was it worth it?

The answer to that question likely depends upon which side of the statistics you fall upon.  OSHA tells us that approximately 25,000 people suffered ladder related injury falls last year.

Working with heights creates special risks. When person falls even a few feet off a ladder and lands on a hard surface, like concrete, the injuries will often be severe. Ranging anywhere from bruising & soreness to joint & fracture injuries, back & neck injuries, and brain injuries, falls from heights almost always result in work stoppage, lost wages, and may be career ending or even fatal. According to data published by the CDC, 43% of fall fatalities are ladder falls.

Familiarity breeds contempt?

When it comes to ladder safety, regular usage has been shown to have a direct correlation with an individual’s likeliness to “get creative”, disregarding proper operational standards and limitations. As mentioned earlier, tight spots, time constraints, and improper budget also play a major role in users’ poor decision making when it comes to ladders.

7 keys to ladder safety:

1. Proper training
• Before initial operation, be sure your team has been properly trained on safety and correct ladder usage.
2. Proper usage:
• Secure the ladder
• An extension ladder should be tied off at the top, middle and bottom
• The structure that you tie the ladder to must be capable of supporting the ladder.
• The top must extend three feet beyond the roof line if you are climbing onto the structure.
• The ladder must extend three feet past the platform being climbed to if climbing to another surface.
• Always face the ladder when climbing or descending.
• Do not climb higher than the second rung on stepladders or the third rung on straight or extension ladders.
• Hands must be free of material while climbing ladders. Hand lines and/or tool pouches will be used to raise or lower material.
• Utilize the 4-1 ratio:
• Divide the length of the structure from the ground to the top support point (where the ladder rests against the building) by four - not including the three foot extension to 15 feet.
• The ladder’s base should be three feet from the foundation.The 4-to-1 Ratio is important because the angle it creates utilizes the ladder’s strength and gives optimum balance when climbing.

3. PPEs (Personal Protective Equipment)
• These vary with the job, but include things like
• Body harness - especially for greater heights
• Safety helmet - to protect against head trauma
• Work gloves - for increased grip
• Work shoes or boots - for increased grip and flexibility
4. Proper equipment maintenance
• Ladders should be inspected before and after each use. Look for:
• Broken or frozen joints or latches.
• Cracks, broken welds, rough spots and burrs.
• Cracked wood, splinters, and rot.
• Broken or loose hardware.
• Protect wood ladders with linseed oil or clear sealant.
• Protect fiberglass ladders also with a clear sealant.
• Frequently oil metal bearings of locks, wheels, pulleys and other moving parts.
5. Safe working environment
• The ladder foundation and top point of contact (for extension ladders) should be clear and secure, with no obstructions or barriers to maximum traction.
6. Accountability
• Friends don’t let friends take dangerous chances. Work to establish a zero-tolerance policy regarding not following proper ladder safety practices among the team.
7. Proper equipment
• The right size and type of ladder for the job can be a lifesaver. Literally.

At Creech Ladder Center, we care about your team’s safety. We offer a wide variety of ladders from top, trusted manufacturers like Little Giant and Louisville Ladder Company, so you can properly outfit your team with the right equipment for the job. The next time you find yourself in a tight spot with inferior equipment, just remember, “If it’s out of reach, call the folks at Creech!”

Call Us! 615.242.8601

To learn more about special offers and updates, click here: http://web.vanandtruckequipmenttn.com/home/

The Ladder

Photo Credit: "Hausbuch Wolfegg 53v 53v1 Drehbank Waage Steiggeräte" by Anonymous

noun, lad·der often attributive \ˈla-dər\

 

: a device used for climbing that has two long pieces of wood, metal, or rope with a series of steps or rungs between them.

: a series of steps or stages by which a person is enabled to move up to a higher or better position.

Everyone knows the purpose of a ladder is to reach high, otherwise out of reach places safely. But there are a few things you may not know about this oft overlooked tool. Here is a short list of historical tidbits about the mighty ladder.

• Scientists believe ladders to have been used over 10,000 years ago due to depictions of them in ancient Mesolithic era paintings discovered in the Spider Caves in Spain. 

• This early ladder as painted is long and flexible, and is made of a material with the appearance of grass.

• Some of the oldest ladders on record were not made of fixed materials, but with flexible fibers like rope. A small number of these historic ladders are still in use today. 

•  The bible famously makes mention of "Jacob's Ladder" in Genesis 28:10-19. In the scripture Jacob describes a dream in which he saw a ladder reaching from heaven to earth with angels ascending and descending it. The book of Genesis is believed to have been written somewhere between 1440 and 1400 B.C.

• On January 7, 1862, Dayton, Ohio resident John H. Balsley received the first US patent for the step ladder. While not the original inventor, Mr. Balsley improved upon the design by placing hinges atop of the ladder, allowing it to be folded and more easily stored and transported. 

•  Kiva ladders, originally used to reach the upper floors of the Anasazi cliff dwellings, southwestern pueblo homes, and ceremonial caves, are a primitive looking wooden ladder made of tall, hand-scraped pine poles. Scaled down replicas have become a popular item in contemporary home decor.

• Deteriorated or improperly fitted base pads are one of the most common causes of ladder slippage contributing to accidents. They are responsible for lowering friction with the ground, thereby increasing traction. Ladder stabilizers are widely available and do much to increase a ladder's grip on its foundation. The first ladder stabilizers or ladder feet were offered in 1936 and today are standard equipment on most large ladders.

To learn more about ladders, scaffolding, and a wide array of service industry equipment available for your vehicles and more, check out Creech Ladder. We're your one-stop-shop for accessories that improve safety, stability and usability. You can call us direct at 615.242.8601, or check out our website for special offers and updates at: http://web.vanandtruckequipmenttn.com/home/.

And remember,  if it's out of reach, call the folks at Creech!