Even if using a ladder at work is an everyday occurrence, it’s important that you always put your safety above everything else. When you do this, you’re more confident in your ability to prevent an accident that can cause serious injury or even death.
Here are five tips you can follow to protect yourself against a ladder accident on the job:
- Don’t use a ladder in inclement weather: For example, if it’s raining or extremely windy, wait until conditions improve.
- Maintain three points of contact: This is easy to do if you’re paying attention to every step you take. Three points of contact means two hands and one foot or two feet and one hand.
- Inspect your ladder before use: Don’t assume that a ladder is designed to last forever. Damage and defects can come to light over time, so you should inspect your ladder before every use. And if you find something, report it to your supervisor to protect yourself and others.
- Don’t place your ladder next to traffic: If possible, place your ladder far away from areas of high traffic, such as roadways and doors. You don’t want anything or anyone to bump your ladder while using it.
- Place your ladder on firm and level ground: Carefully inspect where you’re placing the ladder, as soft or uneven ground increases the risk of falling. Also, never place an object under a leg of the ladder to make it even. Should this object slip, there’s a very good chance your ladder will tip.
When you take these steps, you’ll feel more confident in your ability to safely use a ladder.
Should your suffer an injury on the job, such as the result of falling off a ladder, call for help and do your best to seek treatment at a local hospital as quickly as possible.
Depending on the circumstances, you should also report the incident to your supervisor, to make it clear that your injuries were a result of a workplace accident.
The final step is to file a workers’ compensation claim while you recover. This allows you to receive compensation until you can return to work.
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