Ladder Safety!

 I feel compelled to write on ladder safety for the following reasons. Most home owners own a ladder and use it several times per year. I have seen homeowners using ladders and some of them scare me to death the way they use them! I once saw an 80 year old man cleaning his gutters. It was just a single storey home, but he climbed to the top rung of his 6 ft step ladder and was standing on the top rung....you know.....the one that says "DO NOT STAND HERE". There's a reason why you never stand on the top wrung. The ladder has NO stability! Here are some pictures of unsafe ladder usage!

These pictures are truly unbelievable! It just is not worth it to risk your life for the sake of what ever task you want to accomplish. Ladders are meant for one purpose. To climb safely and use according to manufacturers specifications to accomplish your task.

Every year I hear of home owners who are injured falling from a ladder. The previous owner of the home I currently live in was severely injured falling from a ladder. He was working on a side of the house that was very difficult to get a good pitch on the ladder so it was pitched too steep. He climbed the ladder and was cleaning the eavestrough when he suddenly lost balance and fell backwards. He was able to jump backwards, landing on his feet, but the impact shattered his pelvis in two places. When he landed, his momentum carried him backwards and he hit his head on a tree suffering a severe concussion. He survived, but because he was elderly, the doctors were unsure for a few days. This story is just one of many! I met a 46 yr old man who sustained an injury so severe from falling off a ladder that he had not been able to return to work for a year. Another man I know in his early 50's, broke his arm so badly that the bone splintered and was sticking out his flesh. He has been trying to get better for over 2 years and he still can't return to the work he was doing!

Using a ladder isn’t inherently dangerous, but it can be dangerous or deadly if a person is not careful and mindful of ladder safety.


With that said, it is almost spring and your “to do” list around the house has increased over the winter. Some of the things you’ll need to take care of in the coming months likely include:

1. Trimming branches from trees
2. Inspecting exterior walls and doors for cracks
3. Taking off storm windows
4. Washing windows and power-washing siding
5. Cleaning gutters, downspouts, and roof valleys on your home.

Some of these tasks will require you going out to the shed or garage to retrieve the long forgotten ladder. Please keep this sobering statistic in mind regarding ladder safety…every year, over thousands of people in North America are injured from accidents involving a ladder. Recent OSHA research found that almost 100 percent of all ladder accidents could be avoided with the proper attention to the details of how your equipment works and being mindful of ladder safety tips.

Before Using Check Ladder For:

1. Cracks
2. Bends
3. Splits
4. Corrosion
5. Missing Rungs and Steps
6. All feet are working properly – a solid base is vital to a solid ladder
7. Rung locks and spreader braces are working properly
8. All bolts and rivets are secure
9. All steps, rungs, and other ladder parts are free of oil, grease, and any other liquid or debris that will make climbing your ladder more difficult than it already is

Do not use your ladder if any of the above problems are found as a result of your inspection.

Ladder Safety Tips for Proper Setup and Use:

1. Choose a safe location to setup your ladder while avoiding doors and uneven/slippery flooring
2. Avoid windy conditions
3. Uneven or slippery flooring because this could cause the ladder to shift while you are standing on it – not a good situation
4. Stay at least 10 feet away from any and all power lines
5. Use a spotter (an extra person at the bottom of the ladder) when possible. If not, secure the ladder on each end to ensure it doesn’t fall or lean away from the structure
6. Never carry bulky materials or heavy loads up or down a ladder. All materials should be raised to the work station on a tether or with a lift.
7. Always face the ladder.
8. Keep your body weight centred in between the two side rails
9. Maintain three points of contact with the ladder at all times
10. Only one person on the ladder at a time
11. Avoid sudden movements
12. Never stand on the top rung
13. Never sit on any rung

Most of these ladder safety tips are common sense, but even the most experienced at doing something can forget the basics from time -to-time. So please be careful and then enjoy the coming Spring, Summer and Fall seasons!

To contact us regarding eavestrough, fascia, soffit, or gutter protection work, contact The Eavestrough Company at 905-966-2564. You can also visit our website at www.theeavestroughcompany.com

In closing, I encourage you to click on the link below to one of the best ladder safety articles I have ever read!

http://www.freewindowcleaningtips.com/extension-ladder-safety.htm