Ladder_Safety Short Course

8/8/2019 Ladder_Safety Short Course

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Ladder SafetyAnIntroduction to Ladder SafetyAwareness


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Ladder Safety

In the United States, one person almost every day of the year is killed by

falling from a ladder; approximately 300 deaths and 130,000 serious injuries.

Probably hadnt thought much about it, huh? After all, ladders are one of

those tools we use every day and take for granted.Yet, if a falling accident

occurs from a ladder, the chances are excellent the accident will result in

injury or death.

Besides the expense of Workers Compensation Claims, the really

important issue is the pain and suffering a fall injury may bring - to you as a

victim, or to your survivors - and the lost productive time to your employer.

Fortunately, almost all falls are preventable if the fundamentals of ladder

construction, use and safety are understood.


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Ladder Safety

How long does it take you to fall? Many workers believe that they have time

to regain their balance before they fall. However, this belief is usually untrue.

The following table shows how far you can fall in different time spans:

Time (Seconds) Distance (feet)

0.5 41.0 16

1.5 36

2.0 64

2.5 100

3.0 144

4.0 256

Two snaps of the fingers, and a 150# person has fallen 64 feet and if stopped

there, crashes with an estimated impact force of 4800# - more than enough

to break a lot of otherwise healthy bones! Makes you appreciate the

seriousness of the sudden stop at the bottom!


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Ladder Safety

There are several kinds of ladders designed for different uses

Short 2-3 step step-stools or short folding ladders are just the thing

for getting items off that high shelfor just the edge you need to

paint the wall all the way to the ceiling.

Folding step ladders come in all sizes; from 3 to 20 or so. Folding

ladders are the most stable and safest laddersif used correctly!

Extension ladders range from about 16 to the hydraulic behemoths

mounted on fire trucks. Extension ladders are safe if properlymaintained and used correctly.


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Ladder Safety

Straight ladders are fixed length ladders used for specific tasks

requiring relatively short lengths (< 20ft.)

Fixed ladders are ladders that are constructed as integral parts of

structures or equipment, such as large storage tanks, process

equipment, industrial facilities, or smoke chimneys.

Ladders have very specific OSHA requirements governing their

construction and the safety equipment that must be used in order to climb

them safely.


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Ladder Safety

For all their apparent simplicity, two primary hazards are associated with the

use of ladders. The hazards are

Falls (and the sudden stop at the bottom!)

Electrical hazards

Electrocution

Shocks (often with resulting falls with sudden stops at the

bottom!)

In this course, you will learn how ladders are designed and constructed,

how to use portable ladders safety. You will also learn about the safety

equipment necessary to safely climb fixed ladders at industrial facilities.

As in any knowledge-based course, the development of hands-on skills in

the deployment, use and maintenance of fall arrest equipment is essential

before climbing industrial fixed ladders.


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Portable Ladders


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Ladder Safety

Portable ladders and electricity

Right up front, the student should understand that

portable ladders (of any type) and electricity truly do

not mix!

Portable ladders are difficult to handle and can easilyaccidentally break lighting and other power fixtures.

Worse, portable ladders used outdoors can contact

elevated high tension supply lines by accident

resulting in electrocution. In many cases, conductive

ladders do not have to contact the line they can

merely come sufficiently close to it to cause a shortcircuit through the ladder to ground.

Do not use metal (or wet) ladders when working near power-lines or

fixtures. Keep all ladders at least ten feet away from residential power-lines

and much further away from larger power-lines.


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Ladder Safety

Portable ladder construction

Portable ladders come in many lengths and essentially one of three different

construction materials

Wood

Aluminum or steel

Fiberglass

They range from small step-stool models to truck mounting extension

ladders for fire fighting. Portable ladders are manufactured in essentially

three configurations

Straight ladders

Extension ladders

Step-ladders


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Ladder Safety

There are also three different weight-bearing standards for portable

ladders

Type 1A Industrial heavy duty 300# (OSHA requires safety factor

of 3.3X @75.5 deg.)

Type I Industrial heavy duty to 250# (OSHA requires 4X safety factor

@ 75.5 deg.)

Type II Commercial Medium-duty to 225# (OSHA requires 4X safety

factor @ 75.5 deg.)

Type III Household light duty to 200# (OSHA requires 4X safety

factor @ 75.5 deg.)


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Ladder Safety

Straight ladders

Straight ladders are used for repetitive climbing to a relatively fixed height.

For example, fruit picking ladders are usually fixed ladders because fruit

trees of various types rarely exceed a characteristic height.

Straight ladders may be of wood, metal or fiberglass construction. Most are

wood or metal. Straight ladders are usually constructed of solid wood or

metal rails joined with rungs.

The rungs in a wood ladder are usually hickory, oak, ash or other hardwood

to provide the maximum strength for the weight. Rails are usually fir,

hemlock or similar softer woods that are much lighter.

Metal ladder rungs are either welded to the rails or attached with expansion

plugs.


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Ladder Safety

In either case, only the attachment of the rungs to the rails holds the ladder

together. This means that loose or broken rungs must be repaired before the

ladder is used or the ladders structural integrity is jeopardized.

Straight ladders may also be constructed of wood or metal trusses in the

place of solid rails. Trusses offer significant weight advantages while

providing equal structural strength.

Figure 1 A & B

A BStraight ladders are heavy in longer lengths

and not convenient to transport. Straight

ladders are often replaced by extensionladdersa more adaptable form of ladder.

Figure 1A illustrates a straight ladder, while

figure 1B illustrates an extension ladder.


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Ladder Safety

Extension laddersExtension ladders essentially combine straight ladder sections with an

interlocking rail system, and mechanisms to extend the ladder from the

ground to its working height and lock it in position. The extension section is

called the fly section, the lower section is the base.

Extension ladders can be built of wood, aluminum, steel or fiberglass.

Almost all are made of wood, aluminum or fiberglass, with aluminum and

fiberglass the most common materials in recent years. Both aluminum and

fiberglass offer significant advantages over wood.

Fly sections usually extend using a system of pulleys and a rope. Thepulleys run on ball bearings to make them easy to use, and the rope may be

either natural manila or a synthetic rope. Manila is preferred in fire service

applications because it doesnt burn easily and doesnt melt or elongate

when exposed to heat as synthetics do. However, it must be replaced

regularly.


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Ladder Safety

Extension ladder locking mechanisms are usually either gravity activated

automatic catches that rest on a base section rung and are locked in place

when weight is placed on the ladder, or spring loaded catches.

Most extension ladders are made of aluminum. Aluminum is relatively light

and very strong for its weight. Aluminum also bends before it breaks and

that provides an additional safety margin.

But aluminum conducts heat and electricity very readily making aluminum

dangerous to use around electrical and heat hazards. In addition, aluminum

used in ladder construction is heated to about 6000 F. to increase the

strength of the aluminum. If aluminum ladders are exposed to heat in

excess of 6000 F. (as in a fire scenario) they may be unable to bear even the

weight of a man.


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Ladder Safety

Many extension ladders are made of fiberglass. Fiberglass is very strong

and heat tolerant. It does not conduct heat quickly, nor does it conduct

electricity when dry. Fiberglass ladders made of self-extinguishing polymers

do not burn except when directly exposed to flame. They lose strength

comparatively slowly.

Fiberglass is much heavier than aluminum and breaks suddenly when over-stressed. Also, fiberglass ladders need to be protected with a lacquer

coating to prevent oxidation damage.

This combination of properties, however, makes fiberglass ladders the

ladders of choice for electrical or fire control work.

Wooden extension ladders are rarely used these days. They used to be the

ladders of choice for electrical and fire work because wood is non-

conductive and for ladder purposes, fire-resistant. However, the

maintenance requirements for wood ladders have made them obsolete for

most applications.


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Ladder Safety

Extension ladders must be rigorously maintained. Extension pulleys and

locking mechanisms must be oiled occasionally. Extension ropes must be

replaced when worn, frayed or deteriorated. Locking mechanisms must be

inspected and their ability to lock and secure properly must be ascertained.

Candle wax is the lubricant used to lubricate the rails where they slide

against each other.

In all cases, the locking mechanisms for both rails must be properly and

securely locked before climbing the ladder.

Many extension ladders, and some fixed ladders have spurs attached to

the rail bottoms to help stabilize the ladder in soil. However, the spurs do

not work on hard surfaces such as concrete and must be replaced with

non-slip rubber pads. Many ladders have swiveling feet allowing rubber

pads or spurs to be selected based on the type of support surface.


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Ladder Safety

Straight and extension ladders are constructed to resist the force of gravity

directed downward. Theoretically, a ladder is strongest when it is in the

vertical (900) position relative to the surface it is on. However, vertical

ladders are not safe to climb, unless they are secured in some manner, so a

stable angle is used to weight-rate ladders75-760 relative to the support

surfacea slope of 4/1.

Therefore the most stable angle for a portable ladder is approximately 750 or

a 4/1 slope. In setting up a portable ladder the base should be one foot from

the wall or other vertical support for every four feet of vertical height.

The reference height used to calculate the angle to set up a ladder is the

height of the vertical support surfacenot the length of the ladder.


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Ladder Safety

Note in figure 2 that A represents the

distance from the base of the ladder to the

top support surface for the ladder, and that

the distance from a vertical line between the

base support surface (the ground in this

case) to the top support surface is of A.

For example, if a wall is 12 high, A=

approximately 126 and the base of the

ladder should be approximately 3 6 from the

base of the wall.

Also note the extra three feet of ladder

beyond the support surface. If a climber is

leaving the ladder for the support surface, ie,

a roof, OSHA requires the ladder to be a

minimum of A+3 in length. Figure 2


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Ladder Safety

Some safety pointers for using straight and extension ladders

Keep your belt buckle between the rails!

Keeping your belt buckle between the rails means that you have not

extended your weight far over one rail causing the ladder to over-

balance, slip and fall.

Never hand carry loads up a ladder!

If tools or supplies are required, carry them in your pocket, in a tool

belt, or lift them from the ground in a line.

Always use a three-point stance!

One hand and both feet on the ladder; both hands and one foot on

the ladder. If you must work with both hands, hook one leg over a

rung to hold and support you.


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Ladder Safety

Never stand on the ladders top three rungs!

Its easy to overbalance and fall off.

Never use a ladder that is damaged or weakened!

Never walk a ladder into position while you are on it!

Climb down and re-position the ladder from the ground.

Use care around electrical fixtures!

You can get an electrical shock on any ladder, but dry fiberglass

and wood ladders do not normally conduct electricity. Using

aluminum ladders around electrical fixtures can result in

electrocution.


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Ladder Safety

Never use a ladder in front of a door unless it is locked, blocked or

guarded!

Never use a ladder in a strong wind!

Never have more than one person on a ladder at one time!

Never carry a ladder in the vertical position. Carry a ladder in the

horizontal only.

Never jump from a ladder!

Be certain you are in good enough physical condition to climb!

Includes not being under the influence of alcohol or drugs that

make you dizzy, drowsy or subject you to fainting.


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Ladder Safety

Make sure ladders are kept free of oils, greases or other

contaminants that may cause slipping!

Use ladders only for their intended purpose!

Ladders are not bridges. If you need to bridge a gap with a ladder, a

whole different load bearing analysis must be done to ensure

safety.

Secure ladders subject to displacement by other inadvertent

workplace activities!

Keep areas around tops and bottoms or ladders clear!

Do not move shift or extend ladders while in use!


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Ladder Safety

Ensure the ladder is in good condition!

Ensure the ladder can handle the weight!

Raise a straight or extension ladder by placing the base of the ladder

against a wall or other resistance, then, beginning with the top rung

walk the ladder up to vertical. Rest it on the upper support, then move

the base out to the proper location


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Ladder Safety

1. Transport ladder

horizontally.

2. Place base of ladder against

base of wall or block.

3. Raise ladder starting

at the top rung.

4. Raise ladder to vertical position.

Hold with one hand and grasp lower

rung with other hand.

5. Pull the base of the ladder back until the

ladder is 750 relative to the bases support

surface.

750

Figure 3


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Ladder Safety

Step Ladders

Step ladders are self-supporting ladders used to work where either there are

no upper supporting structures or its not desirable to use an upper

supporting structure; for example, when painting a wall or ceiling.

Step-ladders have four rails connected by rungs (on the working side) and

by braces on the opposite side. The rungs and braces may be individually

braced or otherwise reinforced. The working-side rails are connected to the

support rails by a solid platform with a pivot or hinge at the top, and folding

metal tie-rods that prevent the front and back rails from separating more

than 750 while locking to prevent accidental folding. Step-ladders may or

may not have folding shelves attached to support paint cans or tools.

The tie-rods can be unlocked and the step-ladder can be folded for

horizontal transport in the same manner as a straight or extension ladder.


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Ladder Safety

Step-ladders may be made of wood,

aluminum or fiberglass. Aluminum

Step-ladders have the advantages of

high strength to weight and the

malleable properties of aluminum

that allow it to bend before it breaks.

Aluminum step-ladders have the

same disadvantages of being highly

conductive for electricity and heat,

and have the same strength

reduction if exposed to heat over

6000 F.

Aluminum step-ladders usually do

not exceed 20 in height.

Figure 4 Step-ladder


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Ladder Safety

Fiberglass step-ladders are strong, durable and non-conductive of heat and

electricity. They should be chosen for use where there are heat or electrical

hazards. However, they are heavier and may be more difficult to use than

aluminum ladders.

Use step-ladders on level surfaces!While straight ladders must be placed on level footing, the area of level

footing required for safe use of a step ladder is much larger. All four feet

must be on a firm level surface to use a step-ladder safely. How much level

surface is required varies in direct proportion to the length of the ladder.

Long step-ladders 16-20 feet - require large flat level areas.

Using a step-ladder with one or more feet improperly supported may result

in a fall. If it does not result in a fall, and it used regularly in that manner, it

will result in twisting of the ladder frame and eventual loosening of the

rungs and braces potentially reducing the service life of the ladder.


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Ladder Safety

1. Carry ladder horizontally 2. Stand the ladder up vertically.

3. Step to the side facing the

side of the ladder. Rest theladder on the main rail feet.

Grasp the main rail with one

hand, and the rear rail with

the other hand. Spread the

rails apart.

4. Lock the side rail tie-

bar /braces in thehorizontal position. The

ladder should look like

the letter A.

5. Climb!

Figure 5 Setting up a step-ladder


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Ladder Safety

The general safety rules for step-ladders are similar for the safety rule for

straight and extension ladders.

Keep your belt buckle between the rails!

Keeping your belt buckle between the rails means that you have not

extended your weight far over one rail causing the ladder to over-balance, slip and fall.

Never hand carry loads up a ladder!

If tools or supplies are required, carry them in your pocket, in a tool

belt, or lift them from the ground in a line.

Always use a three-point stance!

One hand and both feet on the ladder; both hands and one foot onthe ladder. If you must work with both hands, hook one leg over arung to hold and support you.


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Ladder Safety

Never stand on the ladders top rung or top platform!

Its easy to overbalance and fall off.

Never stand on the braces on the back of the ladder, on the tool/paintshelf, or on the rail tie-bar/ side-braces!

These structures are not designed to hold your weight.

Never use a ladder that is damaged or weakened!

Never use a ladder in front of a door unless it is locked, blocked orguarded!

Never have more than one person on a ladder at one time!

Never use a step-ladder when all four feet are not firmly and equallysupported!


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Ladder Safety

Make sure ladders are kept free of oils, greases or other

contaminants that may cause slipping!

Never jump from a ladder!

Ensure the ladder can handle the weight!

Never use a wet ladder for jobs with electrical hazards!

Used properly and safely, step-ladders are safe and useful tools.


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Key Point Review

Portable ladders are normally one of three types

Straight

Extension

Step-ladders

Portable ladders are normally constructed on one of three materials

Wood

Aluminum

Fiberglass

Wood ladders are difficult to maintain and have a limited service life.

They are used less than they used to be.

Aluminum ladders are light-weight, maintenance-free, strong for theirweight and bend before they break. Aluminum ladders are good general

service ladders unless exposure to heat or electricity is expected.

Fiberglass ladders are strong, durable and relatively stable to heat and

electricity. They are good general service ladders but are somewhat

heavy.


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Source:

http://www.safetycenter.navy.mil


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References

Baker, David E. and Lee, Rusty, Portable Ladder Safety, University of Missouri Cooperative

Extension Service, National Ag Safety Database at http://www.cdc.gov/nasd/docs/d000801-

d000900/d000877/d000877.html

Climb it Safe, American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons at

http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/brochure/thr_report.cfm?thread_id=20&topcategory=Injury%20Preve

ntion

Construction Worker Killed by Fall From Ladder Washington State, Washington State

Department of Labor and Industries investigation #98WA08601, March 16,2000 at

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face/stateface/wa/98wa086.html

Cyr, Dawna L., and Johnson, Steven B., Ladders, Lifting and Falls (bulletin 2326), Maine Farm

Safety Program, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service, National Ag Safety

Database at http://www.cdc.gov/nasd/docs/d000801-d000900/d000826/d000826.html

Fall Protection Equipment, Lab Safety Supply, Inc. Document #130 @

http://www.labsafety.com/refinfo/ezfacts/ezf130.htm

Fixed Access Ladders, Canadian Centre For Occupational Health and Safety at

http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/safety_haz/ladders/fixed.html?oe


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References

Fixed Ladders, 29 CFR 1910.27, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration(OSHA) at http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STA NDARDS&p_id=9719

Guidelines on Ladder Safety, University of Sidney (Australia) Risk Management Office athttp://www.usyd.edu.au/risk/policies/ohs/ladders.shtml

Hazards of Working from Fixed Ladders on Tanks, Workers Compensation Board of BritishColumbia at

http://www.worksafebc.com/publications/health_and_safety_information/bulletins/worksafe/assets/pdf/ws0503.pdf

Ladder Safety, DUO Safety Ladder Corporation athttp://www.wfrfire.com/website/articles/ladsafe.htm

Ladder Safety, Regulatory Training Center at http://www.rtc4safety.com/ladder_safety.htm

Ladders and Powerlines, Dominion Power at

http://www.dom.com/about/safety/ladders.jsp

Personal Fall Protection Equipment, Workers Compensation Board of British Columbia athttp://www.worksafebc.com/publications/Health_and_Safety_Information/by_topic/assets/pdf/fall_protection.pdf


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References

Stairways and Ladders, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and HealthAdministration (OSHA) at http://www.osha.gov/doc/outreachtraining/htmlfiles/stairlad.html

Training Module: Proper use of ladders, Agricultural Tailgate Safety Training, Ohio State

University Cooperative Extension Service, National Ag Safety Database at

http://www.cdc.gov/nasd/docs/d001701-d001800/d001706/d001706.pdf


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Key Point Review

Straight and extension ladders may have spurs on the feet to preventslippage in soils, or rubber pads to prevent slippage on smooth surfaces.Newer ladders may have the two types of feet combined andinterchangeable through a pivot arrangement.

Step-ladders require firm level surfaces for safe use.

The most stable angle for a ladder is approximately 750 from horizontal.

Keeping the belt buckle between the rails effectively keeps theclimbers weight centered on the ladder and prevents over-balancing.

All ladders must be kept in good condition,and must not be used if theyare not in good condition.

All ladders must be kept dry and free of oils and greases that may causeslips and falls.

Straight or extension ladders used to access a roof or elevated deckmust extend at least three feet above the roof or deck in order to providethe necessary hand grip surface to enter and exit the ladder safely.

Ladders must be inspected regularly for loose rungs or defective rails orbraces. All mechanical hardware must be maintained in good operatingcondition. Threaded rods on wood step-ladders must be kept tight.

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Ladder_Safety Short Course