Types and Safe Use of Ladders

1, Types of Ladders
Vertical ladder, telescopic ladder, folding ladder, ladder with handrails, other ladders (fire ladder, construction ladder, household ladder, etc.)

2, General safety requirements for ladders

Ladders that meet safety standards
1. Work safety load provided by the manufacturer
2. Safety standards for ladders
3. Introduction to safe usage methods
4. Warning prompts such as: Danger! Do not stand above this level!
General safety requirements for ladders
Use qualified ladders and visually inspect before use
1. It is prohibited to use self-made wooden ladders and painted ladders
2. Only one person is allowed on the ladder, and two people are allowed on the zigzag ladder
3. It is prohibited to shift while standing on a ladder
4. Before use, remove slippery materials from the steps. When going up or down the ladder, face the ladder and take one step at a time
5. For straight and extended ladders, as well as herringbone ladders over 2.4 meters (including 2.4 meters), when in use:
(1) The straight ladder should be fixed at the top, and the herringbone ladder should use a drawstring. If it is not fixed, it should be supported by a dedicated person
(2) When fixing or loosening ropes, a dedicated person should hold the ladder
6. The upper end of the ladder for personnel to go up and down the platform should extend 1 meter beyond the platform
7. The recommended slope for vertical or extended ladders is 60-70 degrees
8. When using a herringbone ladder with a crossbar, be careful not to get caught by the crossbar's twisted chain
When using a ladder behind the passage door, the door should be locked or supervised by someone
10. It is prohibited to use ladders as support frames, skateboards, springboards, and other purposes
11. The top two steps of the ladder are prohibited from standing and painted red, with the label "Danger - No Stepping"
Special insulated ladders should be used for electrical work or work near wires, and the use of metal ladders is prohibited

3, Principles for safe use of ladders

The behavioral principles of going up and down ladders
1. Always face the ladder
2. The position of the feet is the key point. Transfer the center of gravity to the crossbar through the feet, moving only one foot at a time and only one crossbar
The most important principle of behavior in descending a ladder is to be slow, look first, and then descend
The principle of not allowing the body's center of gravity to shift outward
Pay attention to body balance
1. Excessive outward extension of limbs to complete a movement can cause body imbalance and lead to falling
If you need to extend your body to complete the following tasks, you should first consider the issue of center of gravity
Placing a ladder follows the principle of "four point contact"
1. The top of both assistants of the ladder are firmly leaning against the monitored wall
2. The two legs of the ladder are firmly supported on a hard, horizontal, and dry foundation (cannot be placed on boxes or wooden blocks)
3. If possible, fix the ladder support points and have them protected by people
4. Confirm that all wires or ropes of moving tools should be placed on the inside of the ladder to prevent tripping
5. A guardian should be present during use
Climbing the ladder follows the principle of "three-point contact"
1. Always keep your hands free to use for climbing
2. Use a shoulder bag to carry necessary tools or use lifting equipment and ropes to move tools or equipment up and down
3. It is safer to use both hands to lift the crossbar of my ladder up and down than to hold the poles on both sides
4. Swap my hands and use the crossbar to match the movement of my feet
5. If you cannot keep your hands free to use up and down the ladder at the same time, then you should adhere to the principle of exerting force on both hands, one foot, or both feet, one hand
Caution: Do not use ladders when sick or taking medication that affects balance
The principle of four straight and one horizontal safety angles
The inclined ladder must meet the safety angle requirement of 4:1 to ensure its stability
4, Storage, handling, and inspection of ladders

Storage of Ladders
1. There must be no risk of tripping. It must be placed horizontally when not in use to avoid tipping and injuring nearby personnel
2. It should not be stored outdoors and should be placed in a ventilated and dry area
Handling of Ladders
1. The extension ladder should be shrunk and fixed before being transported
2. The herringbone should be moved after being folded together
3. Always keep the ladder body parallel to the ground during transportation
4. Two people carrying long ladders and ladders weighing over 25 kilograms
Inspection of Ladders
Anyone should conduct appropriate checks before using a ladder
Inspection content
1. Is the length of the ladder suitable for the job
2. Visually inspect the safety of the ladder to see if it is damaged, broken, or has short crossbars
3. Visually inspect the safety of the safety rope
4. Confirm if there are good safety anti slip feet
5. Confirm whether the anti slip feet of the vertical ladder and the extension ladder are in good condition
6. Confirm if the ladder has an annual inspection mark
7. Observe if there are any abnormalities in the horizontal rod or pedal and check the items
Is the limiter intact
Is there any crack on the ladder body
Is there any cracking in the structure
Obvious material fatigue phenomenon
Corrosion and deformation
Is there any dirt, oil, or grease attached