How to Mount & Dismount a Ladder
No discussion of how to climb a ladder is complete without addressing proper set up of the ladder.
According to a May 2005 publication by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, ladder injuries resulting in hospitalization were up more than 50 percent in the 16 years during which the study (the first of its kind) was conducted. The U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration, or OSHA, states that falls from ladders are mostly caused by improper placement of the ladder. Injuries from falling off a ladder can range from sprains to death.
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Instructions
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Mounting Stepladders
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Open the ladder fully, and lock down the spreader bar. Push down on the spreader from the top where there's a cover over the hinge. Use the open palm of your hand to press down firmly until it snaps into place.
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Place the ladder close to where it's needed so you won't need to lean or reach from the ladder.
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3
Face the ladder, grasp the side rails and climb, one rung at a time, moving your hands and feet alternately so you always maintain three points of contact with the ladder: one hand and two feet or two hands and one foot.
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Climb to only the second rung from the top. Never step on the top of the ladder, as this leaves nothing to hold onto and your weight would make the ladder unstable and easy to tip over.
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Carry your tools in a tool belt, not in your hands while climbing. Alternately, tie a rope to the top rung before you climb and tie the other end to the handle of a bucket holding your tools. After you're positioned at the working level you need, haul up the bucket using the rope.
Dismounting Stepladders
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Return all tools to your bucket and lower it to the ground first. With a tool belt, replace all the tools into the belt. Never leave tools on a ladder.
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Face the ladder and lower one foot at a time, maintaining three points of contact, until you feel the rung securely under your foot. Step down with the other foot. When both feet are secure, slide your hands down to the next rung. Repeat until you reach the ground.
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8
Unlock the spreader bar by pressing upward from under the hinge. Be careful not to pinch your fingers as you fold the ladder for storage.
Mounting Extension Ladders
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Firefighters practice the proper placement of an extension ladder Ask for assistance. It is unwise to attempt handling an extension ladder alone.
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Place the ladder on level ground. Lean the ladder toward the building. Have the assistant stand in front of the ladder, holding the side rails as if about to climb, to keep the feet of the ladder from sliding. This is called "footing the ladder."
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Look at the top of the ladder. It shouldn't be near any power lines as you maneuver it into place. If there are power lines in the area, use a fiberglass ladder.
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Raise the ladder using the pulley rope. Don't raise the ladder above the point where at least three rungs remain overlapped. Doing so would cause the ladder to become unstable. With a fold-out type of extension ladder, ensure the hinge is fully locked into place before attempting to climb. The triangle of space between the building and the ladder should be about one-quarter the height of the ladder.
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13
Mount by facing the ladder, and climbing one rung at a time, maintaining three points of contact at all times. Use a tool belt for your tools. Have your assistant foot the ladder as you climb.
Dismounting an Extension Ladder
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14
Return all tools to your tool belt.
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Dismount facing the ladder, one rung at a time until your foot feels secure on the next rung down before moving your other foot or your hands. Have your assistant foot the ladder as you climb down. Repeat until you're on the ground.
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Exercise caution when lowering the ladder. Keep fingers away from moving parts.
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Tips & Warnings
Remain centered within the ladder rails. If you need to reach out, you are unsafe. Get down and move the ladder instead.
References
- Photo Credit Tony Garcia/Lifesize/Getty Images Fireman on Ladder image by Jeffrey Zalesny from Fotolia.com
