Step ladders are the most common type of ladder, so knowing how to safely choose, inspect, and operate one is essential to avoid mistakes that could endanger you and your colleagues. It’s also important to note that these things don’t just affect big businesses, with step ladders being heavily used for trade, industrial, and DIY use. Whoever you are and whatever you use your stepladder for, this article will help you identify any mistakes you may be making and how to avoid them in the future.
Improper Ladder Selection & Over-reaching:
The first common mistake we are talking about is improper ladder selection, which can cause a number of other mistakes. Firstly, it is important to make sure that you know which classification of ladder you have. If you’re going to use the step ladder for business, it should be certified to EN131 Professional. If you are choosing your stepladder for domestic us rather than professional use, an EN131-nonprofessional certified ladder will suit this task perfectly. With that said, it is still suitable for domestic user to use a trade certified step.
Ladder selection is also very important when it comes to the height that you require for your tasks. Thankfully our range of stepladders come in a range of sizes, in terms of both treads and working height. Ensuring the working height is capable of reaching the height of your task is incredibly important to avoid other dangers such as overreaching, which can cause an imbalance of weight on the ladder and creates a heightened risk of falling.
The solution to selecting the correct ladder is to ensure that you carefully read and take into account the specifications of the ladders you are buying to ensure that they are suitable for the tasks you are using them for. One of our tallest step ladders on the market is the Lyte ESP, with 12 treads and a platform height of 2.57m, giving the user a working height of 4.07m. Should you require access higher than this another ladder type or tower may be more sufficient.
Neglecting Ladder inspections:
You may think ladder inspections are tedious or even unnecessary, but the importance of them can’t possibly be understated. Ladder inspections help you identify damage, hazards, and any other issues with your equipment that may go unnoticed at first glance but can raise the risk of accidents significantly.
To avoid this mistake, you should carry out regular pre-use inspections of your equipment but should also perform a full inspection at different intervals depending on how heavy the use is. The Ladder Association recommends:
-
Ladders used daily - Every three months
-
Ladders used weekly - Every six months
-
Ladders used infrequently - Annually.
While carrying out an inspection, you should be sure to look for: damaged/worn ladder feet, twisted/bent/dented stiles, cracked/worn/bent/loose rungs, missing/damaged tie rods, cracked/damaged welded joints, loose rivets and damaged stays.
Anyone who is deemed to be competent can carry out a ladder inspection, however a good way to prove competency is through Ladder Association Training, should you have a large number of ladders on site we can also complete full ladder inspections on your behalf.
Another great tip when it comes to ensuring your ladders are safe, is using inexpensive tools like inspection stickers, tags, and folders such as Ladder Log. Ladder Log can be used to give clear signs as to whether a ladder has passed or failed its inspection. Available as tags and holders or stickers for a number of ladder types, the ladder log tag shows if the equipment is out of date and due another inspection. These tools can make the inspection process a lot more efficient and ensure that your business meets all the requirements of the Work at Height Regulations 2005.
Standing on the top tread:
While there are a number of platform stepladders that are specifically designed for you to stand on the platform that forms the top tread, step ladders without a platform are not designed for this purpose. When using builders or swingback step ladders one common mistake is standing on the top tread of the ladder. When using this ladder type you should not stand on the top three treads of the step ladder unless there is a suitable handhold, and the manufacturer's instructions states it is safe to do so.
This will be important to keep in mind when choosing the number of treads and working height of the product you are buying.
Improper Positioning:
Positioning your stepladder correctly is the first step to using it safely and effectively. Improper positioning can lead to other mistakes, such as overreaching, leaning, poor balance and much more.
When positioning your step ladder there are a number of factors that you should consider, for example, where are you positioning it? It is recommended that you place your stepladder beside and/or below where you are working, facing your task rather than side on. Ensure to complete a risk assessment before any tasks are carried out.
It is also important to ensure your ladder is stood on its feet, as they are the only part designed to take the weight, but you also need to ensure that the ladder is on an even, level, and unmovable base that isn’t wet or otherwise slippery. If you need to reposition your ladder during a task, you should never attempt to reposition it while on it. You should climb back down safely before repositioning the ladder from the ground.
In regard to positioning always ensure that the locking bars are fully engaged, another common mistake for ladders collapsing. Unless the manufacturer instructions state otherwise, a step ladder is not suitable for using closed against a wall, if you require a ladder for this use there are safe solutions designed for this.
Carrying Heavy Loads:
Carrying heavy or bulky items while using a ladder can spell disaster for a number of reasons. These types of items can severely affect your balance which only becomes more dangerous as you climb higher up the ladder, but bulky items can also cause problems if you are working in confined spaces.
Carrying heavy items on ladders can also cause problems regarding the maximum load capacity which, when referring to EN131 certified ladders, is 150KG. It is important to note that the load capacity accounts for the ladder use along with any items they are carrying. So heavy items may push you over the limit of the load capacity, risking breaking the ladder and severely injuring yourself as a result.
To avoid this mistake, you should use toolbelts and/or hoists to carry equipment to height, remembering to keep the total load within the limit of your chosen ladder.
Conclusion:
In summary, improper ladder selection, neglecting ladder inspections, standing on the top tread, improper positioning, and carrying heavy loads are all potential problems when using a stepladder. Hopefully this article has helped you understand the possible mistakes of using stepladders and how to avoid them in the future. If you are still not sure about step ladders, safe working at height, inspections or any other topics, contact our expert team online or call us at 01204 590 232.