How to Use Ladder Jacks
Ladder jacks are used to erect mobile, scaffold-like platforms that are attached to the rungs of extension ladders. These ladders are leaned against a structure, home or commercial building. The jacks fit onto the rungs of the ladders and support a platform. This platform can be made from 2-by-2 boards, or they can be special aluminum platforms made for this particular purpose. Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations require the use of special harnesses for platforms more than 6 feet in height from the ground. These harnesses must be worn by personnel working on the ladder jack platform. Safety ropes are attached to the harness and must be secured to the building above the highest point of the allowed platform. The highest allowable ladder jack platform is 20 feet above the ground surface. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Extension ladders
- Ladder jacks
- Platform
- Safety lines
- Safety harness for heights greater than 6 feet
- Note: All items must be OSHA-approved
Instructions
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Set the extension ladder against the building in accordance with the ladder's specifications for angle of incidence. All ladders come with a set of printed instructions on the ladder for its particular extension size. Space the ladders in accordance with the specifications of the approved platform. Typical spacing for a double 2-by-12 board is no more than an 8-foot open span.
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Install the ladder jacks onto the rungs of the extension ladders. Most modern jacks will have slots at the bottom of the jack. The jacks can be leveled with each other once the platform is installed. The jacks must be in line, on the same horizontal rungs, or close to level with each other before the platform can be attached.
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3
Place the platform onto the horizontal jack surface. Push the jack's locking mechanism toward the platform. The ratchet-like mechanism will hold the boards or platform in place.
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Attach the safety lines in accordance with OSHA regulations to a secure site (see Resources).
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Wear the safety harness and attach a safety line by using an approved method. The jacks can be adjusted in height by moving the jack platform assembly up the rungs of the ladder. Various platform manufacturers might have different methods for minor adjustments.
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Tips & Warnings
Some ladder jack platforms come with a built-in safety handrail. These handrails can possibly eliminate the need to wear a harness with a safety line (see OSHA in Resources).
