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- Dos and Don'ts for Using a Portable Ladder
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Do's |
Don'ts |
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Inspect the ladder for defects such as missing, damaged or loose components; snags; oil, mud or other slippery materials. Make sure moving parts work properly and all connections are secure. |
Don’t climb a ladder if you are not physically or mentally up to it. Dizziness and shortness of breath can interfere with balance. Certain medications can also affect balance. |
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Get help with a ladder that is too heavy to handle by yourself. If possible, have another person hold the ladder while you are working on it. |
Don’t use a ladder, particularly an aluminum ladder, around electrical wires that might be live. If the power is turned off, be sure it cannot be turned on while you are working. |
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Wear slip-resistant shoes or boots, and make sure the soles are clean. Climb one step at a time while facing the ladder. Keep your body centered and use your hands. |
Don’t use a ladder in strong winds. |
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Be sure the ladder has been set up with all ladder feet on firm, level ground. |
Don’t place a ladder on slippery or unstable surfaces, and don’t try to move or shift the ladder while you are on it. |
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Keep the area around the ladder clear and control traffic. For example, if the ladder is located where a door might open, lock or block the door |
Be careful not to overbalance when moving materials. Carefully limit the weight of materials you carry on the ladder. Have materials handed to you or haul them up with a rope. |
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Keep your body centered on the ladder. Hold the ladder with one hand while working with the other. Never let your belt buckle pass beyond either ladder rail. |
Don’t stand or sit above the highest safe standing level. This means you don’t use the top three rungs of an extension ladder or the top of a stepladder. |
The LSU AgCenter and the LSU College of Agriculture