Superstition warns that ladders can lead to bad luck. For the 164,000-plus people who are injured each year while using ladders, that association is very real. But misfortune more often results from poor choices than bad luck. You can avoid becoming a statistic by choosing the right ladder and using it safely. To help you climb with confidence, we consulted the American Ladder Institute (ALI) and ladder manufacturers for information and safety tips. Before you set foot on a rung, make sure you’re in step with the following guidelines.
Selection
Whether you are buying a new ladder or already own several, selecting the right one for the job requires careful consideration. For starters, read the product instructions. On the rails you’ll find safety instructions and duty ratings that provide information about that ladder’s limitations. Besides increasing safety, proper ladder selection boosts
Your work efficiency. Choose a ladder based on the height you need to reach, the nature of the task, where you’ll be working and (not to get too personal) your weight, and consider the following factors.
Style — Ladders are designed in various styles for specific tasks and locations. These are the basic options:
• Stepladders or step stools are freestanding and come in fixed lengths ranging from 2 ft. to 20 ft. They are made to use primarily indoors — or outdoors to reach single-story heights.
• Extension ladders are adjustable in length and must lean against a solid object for support. Use them outdoors to reach higher than single-story levels.
• Specialty ladders, such as articulating or tripod styles, allow you to work in a stairway, a tight corner or other challenging sites.
Material — Your choice of wood, fiberglass or aluminum may depend on personal preference, or it may be dictated by your intended application. (Steel is seldom used in consumer ladders.) Here are some traits of the three typical ladder materials:
• Wood ladders are usually least expensive. They are heavy and therefore solid but can be vulnerable to damage from moisture or from impact. When clean and dry, wood ladders are nonconductive and therefore better suited to use near electricity than metal ladders.
• Fiberglass ladders are somewhat heavy but long-lasting and sturdy. They too are nonconductive when clean and dry and are more weather-resistant than wood (but more expensive).
• Aluminum ladders are the lightest. They are strong and corrosion- and weather-resistant but are not suitable to use near power lines or when doing electrical work.
Duty rating — This indicates the maximum weight a ladder is intended to support, including you, your clothes and any tools or equipment you carry. The chart on p. 74 names the universal types and ratings recognized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) with the color codes commonly associated with each. ANSI requires that the duty rating be displayed on a label found on the rail of every new ladder sold.
Size — Determining size isn’t simply a matter of adding the ladder length and the user’s reaching distance. A 6-ft. stepladder, for example, allows a maximum standing height of only 3 ft. 9 in. And a 24-ft. extension ladder has a maximum working height of only 17 ft. 3 in. Use the tables on p. 77 to guide you in choosing a ladder size. (The stepladder chart assumes a 5-ft. 6-in. user with a 12-in. reach, so adjust the information according to your own height.)
Application
The ALI has helped ladder manufacturers develop safety standards and education programs since 1947. Here are some of its recommendations for ladder users:
• Read the instructions and check the ladder’s duty rating. If the label is nonexistent or unreadable, the ladder should not be used.
• Inspect ladders before each use to be sure all parts are not damaged and that moving parts are working well.
• Postpone exterior work if the weather conditions are wet or very windy.
• Be alert when using a ladder. Stay off of ladders if you’re sleepy, ill or taking medication. Don’t drink and climb.
• If you’re working near a doorway or high-traffic area, lock the door or block the walkway. Never leave a raised ladder unattended.
• Prop extension ladders at a 75-degree angle (see illustration, p. 76) so the distance from the structure to the ladder’s feet is approximately one-fourth of the distance from the ground to where the ladder touches the structure.
• Be sure the ladder has secure footing on a solid, even surface — and that the user has secure footing with proper footwear (no sandals or shoes with leather soles).
• Open the stepladder or step stool
completely, and be sure that the
spreaders are locked.
• To climb, always face the ladder and grasp the rails with both hands. Louisville Ladder recommends three points of contact when climbing or descending; two hands and one foot
or two feet and one hand.
• When reaching to the side, keep your lower body centered. If your navel passes beyond either rail, climb down and reposition the ladder.
• Before you reposition a
ladder — even a short
distance — remove tools, paint or equipment from the ladder’s tray.
Ladder care
The way in which you store and maintain a lad der between uses can affect your safety when it’s time to climb.
• Store ladders in a safe, dry place.
• Be sure that all rungs and steps are intact and that all fasteners are tight
and in place.
• Keep rungs clean and dry and free
of grease or oil.
• Do not paint wooden ladders; the paint may disguise cracks, and the steps or rungs may become slippery.
Whether you use ladders every day on the job or you just need a step stool now and then to change a light bulb, don’t take chances when it comes to climbing. Be careful — and as always, read and follow the safety information provided by the manufacturer of the ladder you’re using.
Picture of Label
A rating label such as this one is required on every new ladder sold. The Type II duty rating indicates that it is intended to bear 225 pounds of weight, including the user, tools and equipment. It also indicates that this 8-ft. stepladder has a maximum reach of 12 ft. |  |
Step Stools and Stepladders
This three-step aluminum step stool by Cosco offers a wide platform, which eases foot and leg strain when standing on a ladder for longer projects, such as window washing or painting. |  |
Extension Ladders
This 20-ft. aluminum extension ladder has two 10-ft. sections that extend to a maximum length of 17 ft. |  |
Specialty Ladders
Work efficiently and safely in stairways or cramped spaces with specialty equipment such as an articulating ladder (see “Multiple-Personality Ladders,” p. 76) or a tripod ladder such as this model by Werner Ladder Co. |  |
Acessories
To adapt extension ladders for even greater safety, add these accessories to your arsenal of climbing equipment:
• Stabilizer bars span windows or downspouts and provide standoff space and a wider point of contact with the structure.
• Leg levelers allow an extension ladder to stand straight and steady on uneven surfaces. | 
|
| To keep both hands free for climbing, transport equipment with a hoist system that you can make using a strong rope and a large bucket. Be sure the bucket handle is secure and the rope is well fastened to the handle. |  |
Multiple-Personality Ladders
Articulating ladders offer great versatility and are ideal for use in challenging locations, such as stairways and high-ceiling areas. The first widely known model, the Little Giant Ladder System (photo, right), boasts 24 ladder setup options and functions as an extension ladder, a stepladder, a double-side stepladder or a scaffolding support system — and then folds to a compact size for storage. Other major ladder makers such as Werner, Louisville Ladder and Cosco have introduced similar multiuse ladders. |  |
Sources:
American Ladder Institute, (312) 644-6610
Cosco Home & Office Products 888-818-5110
LeveLok Corp. (leg levelers), 888-811-1727
Louisville Ladder Group LLC Davidson Ladders: (651) 459-6094; Louisville Ladders: 800-666-2811
Professional Equipment (Xtend&Climb telescoping ladder), 800-334-9291
Werner Ladder Co., 888-523-3370
Wing Enterprises (Little Giant Ladder Systems), 800-523-3377