How to Position a Ladder

A good-quality ladder is an essential tool for household maintenance, whether it's used for painting, cleaning gutters, or for a variety of other sundry chores. Positioning your ladder properly is the first step in using it safely.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Ladder

1. Be sure you have the proper ladder for the job. Ladder ratings are based on their weight-bearing capacity.

2. When examining the area where you'll be positioning the ladder, check the surface the bottom of the ladder will be on. Proper locations will be firm, flat, and stable.

3. When placing the ladder, position it using a 1 to 4 ratio. In other words, the ladder should be 1 foot away from the wall for every 4 feet it rises.

4. Prevent movement of tall ladders by tying it securely to a solid object.

Tips & Warnings

• When purchasing a ladder, be sure it meets the specifications you'll need for your jobs. Consider the weight of the users and the height of objects you'll be working on.
• Always examine your ladder for damage before you use it.
• Never leave a ladder unattended.
• Keep ladders away from live power lines.

Resources

• An excellent resource for ladder safety