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Show 30,000 Disabled By Falls from Ladders This year more than 30,000 people will be disabled by falls involving ladders. Most of these accidents will occur because the victims didn't know the basics of ladder safety. Bob Ingersoll, manager of the Utah Safety Council offers these rules for ladder safety to emphasize stepladdcr and straight ladder hazard prevention: 1. Select a ladder that is strong and long enough for its intended work. Avoid metal ladders when there's a chance of contact with a source of electric current. 2. Inspect the ladder for loose or damaged rungs, steps, rails or braces before you use it. Repair or replace missing screws, hinges, bolts and other hardware. 3. Make sure spreaders on step-ladders can be locked in place and be sure straight ladders have safety feet. 4. If you must set up a ladder in a traffic area, use barricades or guards to prevent collisions and be sure nearby doors that . open toward your work area are blocked. 5. Position a straight ladder at a four-to-one ratio and be sure a stepladder is fully open before using. 6. When using a straight ladder to climb onto a roof or platform, allow your ladder to extend at least three feet beyond the roof edge. 7. Climb and descend ladders cautiously by facing the ladder and holding on with both hands. 8. Never reach or lean too far to either side when on a ladder and don't climb higher than the second tread from the top on a stepladdcr or the third rung from the top on a straight ladder. |