Safety With Ladders

Everywhere you turn today there are health and safety issues - so much so that it has become somewhat of a joke and not taken seriously by some people

. This is a shame as by and large they are there to make people think and prevent accidents.

Anyone who has had to carry out a health and safety risk assessment for any type of building project will also know of the myriad of potential accidents there are that can occur, even for what would be considered the most trivial of jobs. One of the main accident types that can happen is falls from height, and it does not have to be a great height to cause significant injury. An awkward fall from even a moderate height can lead to broken or fractured limbs, or worse if you fall into or onto something such as a window. It does not take much to picture the potential outcome from such falls.

It is not just in at work that these accidents occur. The DIY worker carrying out a simple decorating job at home is perhaps even more at risk. This is because at work there are always people watching to make sure things are done correctly. However in the home situation people are more likely to take risks without anyone questioning what they are doing.

One of the fundamental causes of falls from heights is not that the job requires people to be at height but the incorrect use of ladders and ladder safety.

The first principle that can be ignored is to ensure that the correct type of ladder is used for the job at hand. Having the right tools for the jobs makes things go so much easier. This may seem like an obvious statement but it is surprising how people try to carry out the job with the wrong equipment and this particularly applies when it comes to ladders.

The main problem is that people try to make do with a ladder that is not long enough and they tend to over reach from them. This applies to step ladders as well as extension ladders.

Although a step ladder may have a top step it is never wise to use this as a point to work from as it provides no hand holds. If working from a ladder then you should never work at a height where you cannot hold on to the top of the ladder. The same applies to extension ladders placed against a wall. The last rung should be no lower than chest height. This reduces the risk of over balancing.

If work is to be carried out for prolonged periods at height then working from a platform rather than a ladder may be a much safer prospect.

Another issue with extension ladders is to ensure they are erected at the right angle. A rule of thumb is that they should be at an angle of 4 high by 1 out to ensure a safe working angle.

At Wickes we stock a wide range of ladders and working platforms so that you can find just what you need to work safely.

by:Emma McCann

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