Ladder Safety 101

One of the most important aspects of roofing safety is ladder precaution. Indeed, some of the most devastating injuries that occur while roofer result from improper ladder precautions. Although not everyone’s a roofer, many people use ladders ever year to reach difficult places, dust fans, and hang Christmas decorations. So, in order to encourage safety, as ever good roofer is wont to do, we have compiled some essentials of ladder safety.

Three Feet above the Deck

OSHA requires that every ladder should hang three feet above to optimize ladder safety. What’s more Pythagoras, the ancient Greek philosopher who taught us everything we know about triangles, discovered that for every four feet of height, an additional one foot of distance should be added to optimize stability. We roofers get a bad rep: we like to drink, gamble, and generally have too much fun. Although some of these labels are undeniably true, they fail to mention that we are also mathematicians and safety experts.

Level Surface

This seems like a no brainer but it probably is the most common cause of injury. It is essential that your ladder is situation on a dry, level surface. Often times, accidents result when a ladder is placed in wet grass. The ground below is damp and gives way to the pressure of the ladder. The ladder then sinks into the grass causing the ladder to tilt, and eventually topple to the ground.

Inspect before you Erect

Before your raise the ladder to the roof, you ought to inspect to make sure everything is in order. Look for bent rungs, worn out foot pads, or broken steps. Indeed, ladders can be extremely useful and their virtue should not be obscured by their danger. Taking heed of this advice will mitigate the risk of damage, indefinitely.