Anybody who is “owned by a home” probably has a step ladder. Most of us have been using step ladders since we were kids. We are comfortable with using them, and therein lies the greatest danger.
One danger comes from the fact there is only so much space in a home or garage, so the 6-ft ladder becomes “the ladder,” and it gets used even where an 8-ft ladder would be the correct choice.
This perspective often carries over to the job, where the person responsible for purchasing ladders buys 6-foot step ladders without consideration for actual conditions, or the person using a ladder opts for the familiar 6-footer. After all, 6-foot ladders are lighter and easier to carry than 8-ft ladders.
Assess the job to be done. Understand that a 6-ft ladder will give you a maximum reach of about 10 feet. So do the math carefully.
Once you have determined the correct ladder height, use a ladder of at least that height. Before carrying it out to where you have to use it:
- Inspect each cross brace. Is one bent or damaged in any way?
- Are the anchor points and hinges mechanically sound?
- Are the ladder feet properly attached and working correctly?
- Is the ladder free of paint (which may be conductive) and grease (which is both slippery and conductive)?
- Check each of the four legs for a crack or other damage.
- Check the steps. Are they securely in place? A step with a broken support can move when stepped on, causing a serious injury.
If the ladder fails any of these tests, take it out of service. If it passes all of them, extend the ladder as if you were going to use it. Do the hinges work properly and are the cross braces doing their job? With the ladder still extended, measure from the last step before the “Do not use this step” step to the ground. Is this ladder tall enough for the work you need to do?
