When you are working at a certain height, a ladder is the most important thing you should think about as it is your foundation. Choosing the right ladder the work will ensure the safety of you and crew on the site. Height must be the first consideration while choosing an aluminium ladder, but you should also pay attention to the type of material used and its rating.
There were 724,000 injuries reported on the Jobsite related to the ladder in the year 2010. Ladder safety and training must be enforced on the worksite in order to maintain crew safety.
Choosing The Right Type & Size Of Ladder
While considering whether a ladder can support your weight or not, don’t forget to add the weight of the tools and equipment you will be hauling up there with you. Always check the instructions to determine the maximum working range of each product. For example, a 17 feet aluminium ladder has an approximate standing level of 14 feet.
The top material choices for industrial ladders are aluminium and fiberglass. Aluminium ladders are light in weight so that they can be carried very easily. Aluminium ladders can be hazardous near electrical equipment or wire so fiberglass is a better option here.
Light-duty household ladder :- 90 kg
Medium-duty commercial ladder :- 100 kg
Heavy-duty industrial ladder :- 120 kg
Extra-heavy-duty ladder :- 135 kg
Super-heavy-duty ladder :- 150 kg
Ladder safety Guide
There are some safety tips, you should keep in mind while working on a ladder
- Do not go over-reach when working on a ladder. Come down and move it and be sure to use the right ladder for the work.
- Always maintain three points of contact while working on a ladder; usually, both hands and one foot when climbing up and down, and two feet and one hand when working on site.
- Always stay two steps down from the top of a step ladder. With an extension ladders, stay four rungs down from the top. Top of your ladder should reach three ft past the top of your working surface.
- Ladders should always maintain a 75 ½ degree angle to the ground surface. The base of the ladder should be 1 ft away from the job site.
- When working with portable or extension ladders, make sure that a minimum of 1 m extends above the platform and always tie off the top at support points.
- Working above 3 meters requires workers to wear safety belts or harnesses.
- Regularly inspect your ladder for any wear and tear and repair if necessary.
Article Source: EQUAL
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