Safety Minute

One tool regularly used in building condition assessment work is a ladder;  therefore we will do a safety minute today on "Ladder Safety."

• Each year about 50 workers are killed by falls from ladders.
  
  
• Twice as many falls occur stepping down compared to going up ladders.
  
  
• The main cause of falls from straight and extension ladders is sliding of the ladder base.
  
  
• Proper angle for a leaning ladder should be such that the distance from the support to the base is ¼ of the height.
  
  
• For self-supported ladders or stepladders, the main cause is tipping sideways.
  
  
• A lot of workers carrying ladders hurt their backs.   If possible use two people to carry if the ladder is long.