Home Safety
Follow safety tips to keep you from an injury sustained on a ladder.
* Make sure your ladder is long enough for you to reach the job without standing on the top three steps or overextending your body.
* Check the ladder for cracks or weak spots before you use it. Metal ladders should have nonskid steps and footings. (Don’t paint a ladder; you’ll hide defects.)
* Make sure the soles of your shoes or boots are dry and have enough tread to prevent slipping.
* Always steady a ladder on firm ground or a flat board.
* Never place a ladder in front of a door that someone may open.
* Wear tools on a belt or keep them in your pocket so you can keep your hands free when climbing up or down a ladder.
* To avoid losing your balance while standing on a ladder, don’t lean too far back or to the side.
* Don’t use a ladder outdoors on a very windy day.
* To avoid electrocution, don’t use metal ladders near power lines.
© American Institute for Preventive Medicine