Working at heights
Most of us have a set of ladders in our homes and they are a very important part of our home, not just for DIY, but also for general maintenance of our properties. What most of us neglect is to treat them with the care and respect that they deserve. Ladder induced accidents could have been prevented by treating them with the respect and approaching every task with caution. Working at heights shouldn’t be feared, they should be embraced and by doing this we ensure they are safe an easy to use. This article will go through some important do’s and don’ts when it comes to the correct use of ladders and working at heights in general.
Ladder do’s
To ensure the correct usage of ladders and working at heights, here are a few do’s:
Inspect for defects, including any missing parts or loose components, you will also need to ensure that the ladders are free from any slippery materials such as oil or paint. All of this sounds like common sense but you’d be surprised how many accidents are caused by this. You also need to consider wearing slip resistant boots or shoes.
Make sure that the ladder has been set up on a firm and level surface as an unlevel surface is very dangerous as it will force you to balance which is a very serious hazard.
Keep your body centered on the ladder. Hold the ladder with one hand while working with the other. Never go higher than the third rail from the top. And always make sure that the area you need to work on is about shoulder height. A common cause of accidents is by having to reach out to do the task in hand.
Ladder Don’ts
Don’t use ladders in high winds
Don’t overbalance when moving materials and try and limit the weight of objects you carry whilst using your ladders. For heavier items you might want to consider a rope and pulley system.
Don’t place your ladders on slippery or unstable surfaces.
Working at heights – to conclude
If you consider all the do’s and don’ts that have been mentioned above you will be sure to stay safe when you are using your ladders. If you would like more information then this can be found by entering the keywords ‘working at heights’ into an internet search engine.
Working at height is fraught with hazards so it’s vital you get it right. With www.heightworks.com you can rest assured that height safety training and rope access training is the best available.