Precautions Prevent Ladder Accidents
UL experts offer safety tips to reduce 222,000 home injuries
 NORTHBROOK, Ill.; Spring 2005 - As you start work around your home this spring, be aware that one of the most potentially hazardous tools you'll use has no electrical cord, gas engine, whirling blades or any moving parts. Yet misusing this tool annually sends more than 222,000 people to emergency rooms.
What is this tool? It's your extension ladder or stepladder.
"The number of emergency room visits from ladder-related injuries totals more than those for lawn mowers and home workshop saws combined," warns John Drengenberg, manager of Consumer Affairs at Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL), the not-for-profit product safety organization. "Of course the ladder is dangerous only if it is improperly used. So whether you're standing on a stepladder to change a light bulb in the living room or on an extension ladder to clean out the gutters, a few precautions can keep you safe around your home."
UL safety experts recommend these guidelines for ladder use:
- Follow the use instructions and warning labels found on ladders. These instructions help you choose the proper ladder for the job and describe ladder weight and height limits.
- Use fiberglass ladders whenever there is a possibility of working near electricity or overhead power lines.
- Before you step on the first rung, inspect the ladder. Ensure the rungs are clean, dry, and the ladder is sturdy. Never climb on a slippery or shaky ladder.
- Keep the ladder on a firm, level surface. Don't set the ladder on uneven, soft or muddy ground.
- Remember the 4-to-1 rule. For every 4 feet of ladder height, the bottom of the ladder should be 1 foot away from the wall or object it is leaning against. For example, a 16-foot ladder should have its base 4 feet from the wall.
- On a stepladder, ensure that the spreaders, the devices that hold the front and back sections in an open position, are completely open and locked before you put any weight on the ladder.
- Always use the right height ladder. On a stepladder, don't stand on the bucket shelf. For an extension ladder, make sure it extends 3 feet over the roofline or working surface and that it is not set at too steep an angle.
- Don't overextend your reach. Move the ladder to new positions as your work progresses.
- Never exceed the ladder's weight limit, otherwise known as the maximum load rating. That means only one person on the ladder at a time.
- Don't carry equipment in your hands while you climb a ladder. Invest in a tool belt or have someone hand the equipment to you.
- Face the ladder when climbing up and down; keep your body weight centered and evenly distributed between the side rails.
- Never move a ladder while standing on it. Always make sure people and equipment are off the ladder before moving or closing it.
- If you have to use the ladder in front of a door, ensure that door is locked or being watched by someone.
- Never leave a raised ladder unattended.
For more tips on the safe use of lawn mowers, ladders, power saws and home wiring, visit UL's Web site at www.ul.com/consumers.
About Underwriters Laboratories
Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) is an independent, not-for-profit product safety certification organization that has been testing products for more than 110 years. UL tests more than 18,850 types of products annually, and more than 19 billion UL Marks appear on products each year. Worldwide, UL's family of companies and its network of service providers include 58 laboratories, and testing and certification facilities.
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