Ladder Safety An Introduction to Ladder Safety Awareness - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

1 / 56
About This Presentation
Title:

Ladder Safety An Introduction to Ladder Safety Awareness

Description:

interlocking rail system, and mechanisms to extend the ... may separate allowing the rung to slip out of the rail. ... Rest the ladder on the main rail feet. ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

Number of Views:746
Avg rating:3.0/5.0
Slides: 57
Provided by: pol54
Category:

less

Transcript and Presenter's Notes

Title: Ladder Safety An Introduction to Ladder Safety Awareness


1
Ladder SafetyAn Introduction to Ladder Safety
Awareness
2
Ladder Safety
  • In the United States, one person almost every day
    of the year is killed by
  • falling from a ladder approximately 300 deaths
    and 130,000 serious injuries.
  • Probably hadnt thought much about it, huh? After
    all, ladders are one of
  • those tools we use every day and take for
    granted.Yet, if a falling accident
  • occurs from a ladder, the chances are excellent
    the accident will result in
  • injury or death.
  • Besides the expense of Workers Compensation
    Claims, the really
  • important issue is the pain and suffering a fall
    injury may bring - to you as a
  • victim, or to your survivors - and the lost
    productive time to your employer.
  • Fortunately, almost all falls are preventable
    if the fundamentals of ladder
  • construction, use and safety are understood.

3
Ladder Safety
  • How long does it take you to fall? Many workers
    believe that they have time
  • to regain their balance before they fall.
    However, this belief is usually untrue.
  • The following table shows how far you can fall in
    different time spans
  • Time (Seconds) Distance (feet)
  • 0.5 4
  • 1.0 16
  • 1.5 36
  • 2.0 64
  • 2.5 100
  • 3.0 144
  • 4.0 256
  • Two snaps of the fingers, and a 150 person has
    fallen 64 feet and if stopped
  • there, crashes with an estimated impact force of
    4800 - more than enough
  • to break a lot of otherwise healthy bones! Makes
    you appreciate the
  • seriousness of the sudden stop at the bottom!

4
Ladder Safety
  • There are several kinds of ladders designed for
    different uses
  • Short 2-3 step step-stools or short folding
    ladders are just the thing for getting items off
    that high shelfor just the edge you need to
    paint the wall all the way to the ceiling.
  • Folding step ladders come in all sizes from 3
    to 20 or so. Folding ladders are the most stable
    and safest laddersif used correctly!
  • Extension ladders range from about 16 to the
    hydraulic behemoths mounted on fire trucks.
    Extension ladders are safe if properly maintained
    and used correctly.

5
Ladder Safety
  • Straight ladders are fixed length ladders used
    for specific tasks requiring relatively short
    lengths (lt 20ft.)
  • Fixed ladders are ladders that are constructed as
    integral parts of structures or equipment, such
    as large storage tanks, process equipment,
    industrial facilities, or smoke chimneys.
  • Ladders have very specific OSHA requirements
    governing their
  • construction and the safety equipment that must
    be used in order to climb
  • them safely.

6
Ladder Safety
  • For all their apparent simplicity, two primary
    hazards are associated with the
  • use of ladders. The hazards are
  • Falls (and the sudden stop at the bottom!)
  • Electrical hazards
  • Electrocution
  • Shocks (often with resulting falls with sudden
    stops at the bottom!)
  • In this course, you will learn how ladders are
    designed and constructed,
  • how to use portable ladders safety. You will also
    learn about the safety
  • equipment necessary to safely climb fixed ladders
    at industrial facilities.
  • As in any knowledge-based course, the development
    of hands-on skills in
  • the deployment, use and maintenance of fall
    arrest equipment is essential
  • before climbing industrial fixed ladders.

7
Portable Ladders
8
Ladder Safety
Portable ladders and electricity Right up front,
the student should understand that portable
ladders (of any type) and electricity truly do
not mix! Portable ladders are difficult to handle
and can easily accidentally break lighting and
other power fixtures. Worse, portable ladders
used outdoors can contact elevated high tension
supply lines by accident resulting in
electrocution. In many cases, conductive ladders
do not have to contact the line they can merely
come sufficiently close to it to cause a short
circuit through the ladder to ground.
Do not use metal (or wet) ladders when working
near power-lines or fixtures. Keep all ladders at
least ten feet away from residential power-lines
and much further away from larger power-lines.
9
Ladder Safety
  • Portable ladder construction
  • Portable ladders come in many lengths and
    essentially one of three different
  • construction materials
  • Wood
  • Aluminum or steel
  • Fiberglass
  • They range from small step-stool models to
    truck mounting extension
  • ladders for fire fighting. Portable ladders are
    manufactured in essentially
  • three configurations
  • Straight ladders
  • Extension ladders
  • Step-ladders

10
Ladder Safety
  • There are also three different weight-bearing
    standards for portable
  • ladders
  • Type 1A Industrial heavy duty 300 (OSHA
    requires safety factor of 3.3X _at_75.5 deg.)
  • Type I Industrial heavy duty to 250 (OSHA
    requires 4X safety factor _at_ 75.5 deg.)
  • Type II Commercial Medium-duty to 225 (OSHA
    requires 4X safety factor _at_ 75.5 deg.)
  • Type III Household light duty to 200 (OSHA
    requires 4X safety factor _at_ 75.5 deg.)

11
Ladder Safety
  • Straight ladders
  • Straight ladders are used for repetitive climbing
    to a relatively fixed height.
  • For example, fruit picking ladders are usually
    fixed ladders because fruit
  • trees of various types rarely exceed a
    characteristic height.
  • Straight ladders may be of wood, metal or
    fiberglass construction. Most are
  • wood or metal. Straight ladders are usually
    constructed of solid wood or
  • metal rails joined with rungs.
  • The rungs in a wood ladder are usually hickory,
    oak, ash or other hardwood
  • to provide the maximum strength for the weight.
    Rails are usually fir,
  • hemlock or similar softer woods that are much
    lighter.
  • Metal ladder rungs are either welded to the rails
    or attached with expansion
  • plugs.

12
Ladder Safety
  • In either case, only the attachment of the rungs
    to the rails holds the ladder
  • together. This means that loose or broken rungs
    must be repaired before the
  • ladder is used or the ladders structural
    integrity is jeopardized.
  • Straight ladders may also be constructed of wood
    or metal trusses in the
  • place of solid rails. Trusses offer significant
    weight advantages while
  • providing equal structural strength.

A
B
Straight ladders are heavy in longer lengths and
not convenient to transport. Straight ladders are
often replaced by extension laddersa more
adaptable form of ladder. Figure 1A illustrates a
straight ladder, while figure 1B illustrates an
extension ladder.
Figure 1 A B
13
Ladder Safety
  • Extension ladders
  • Extension ladders essentially combine straight
    ladder sections with an
  • interlocking rail system, and mechanisms to
    extend the ladder from the
  • ground to its working height and lock it in
    position. The extension section is
  • called the fly section, the lower section is
    the base.
  • Extension ladders can be built of wood, aluminum,
    steel or fiberglass.
  • Almost all are made of wood, aluminum or
    fiberglass, with aluminum and
  • fiberglass the most common materials in recent
    years. Both aluminum and
  • fiberglass offer significant advantages over
    wood.
  • Fly sections usually extend using a system of
    pulleys and a rope. The
  • pulleys run on ball bearings to make them easy to
    use, and the rope may be
  • either natural manila or a synthetic rope. Manila
    is preferred in fire service
  • applications because it doesnt burn easily and
    doesnt melt or elongate
  • when exposed to heat as synthetics do. However,
    it must be replaced
  • regularly.

14
Ladder Safety
  • Extension ladder locking mechanisms are usually
    either gravity activated
  • automatic catches that rest on a base section
    rung and are locked in place
  • when weight is placed on the ladder, or spring
    loaded catches.
  • Most extension ladders are made of aluminum.
    Aluminum is relatively light
  • and very strong for its weight. Aluminum also
    bends before it breaks and
  • that provides an additional safety margin.
  • But aluminum conducts heat and electricity very
    readily making aluminum
  • dangerous to use around electrical and heat
    hazards. In addition, aluminum
  • used in ladder construction is heated to about
    6000 F. to increase the
  • strength of the aluminum. If aluminum ladders are
    exposed to heat in
  • excess of 6000 F. (as in a fire scenario) they
    may be unable to bear even the
  • weight of a man.

15
Ladder Safety
  • Many extension ladders are made of fiberglass.
    Fiberglass is very strong
  • and heat tolerant. It does not conduct heat
    quickly, nor does it conduct
  • electricity when dry. Fiberglass ladders made of
    self-extinguishing polymers
  • do not burn except when directly exposed to
    flame. They lose strength
  • comparatively slowly.
  • Fiberglass is much heavier than aluminum and
    breaks suddenly when over-
  • stressed. Also, fiberglass ladders need to be
    protected with a lacquer
  • coating to prevent oxidation damage.
  • This combination of properties, however, makes
    fiberglass ladders the
  • ladders of choice for electrical or fire control
    work.
  • Wooden extension ladders are rarely used these
    days. They used to be the
  • ladders of choice for electrical and fire work
    because wood is non-
  • conductive and for ladder purposes,
    fire-resistant. However, the
  • maintenance requirements for wood ladders have
    made them obsolete for
  • most applications.

16
Ladder Safety
  • Extension ladders must be rigorously maintained.
    Extension pulleys and
  • locking mechanisms must be oiled occasionally.
    Extension ropes must be
  • replaced when worn, frayed or deteriorated.
    Locking mechanisms must be
  • inspected and their ability to lock and secure
    properly must be ascertained.
  • Candle wax is the lubricant used to lubricate the
    rails where they slide
  • against each other.
  • In all cases, the locking mechanisms for both
    rails must be properly and
  • securely locked before climbing the ladder.
  • Many extension ladders, and some fixed ladders
    have spurs attached to
  • the rail bottoms to help stabilize the ladder in
    soil. However, the spurs do
  • not work on hard surfaces such as concrete and
    must be replaced with
  • non-slip rubber pads. Many ladders have swiveling
    feet allowing rubber
  • pads or spurs to be selected based on the type of
    support surface.

17
Ladder Safety
  • Straight and extension ladders are constructed to
    resist the force of gravity
  • directed downward. Theoretically, a ladder is
    strongest when it is in the
  • vertical (900) position relative to the surface
    it is on. However, vertical
  • ladders are not safe to climb, unless they are
    secured in some manner, so a
  • stable angle is used to weight-rate
    ladders75-760 relative to the support
  • surfacea slope of 4/1.
  • Therefore the most stable angle for a portable
    ladder is approximately 750 or
  • a 4/1 slope. In setting up a portable ladder the
    base should be one foot from
  • the wall or other vertical support for every four
    feet of vertical height.
  • The reference height used to calculate the angle
    to set up a ladder is the
  • height of the vertical support surfacenot the
    length of the ladder.

18
Ladder Safety
  • Note in figure 2 that A represents the
  • distance from the base of the ladder to the
  • top support surface for the ladder, and that
  • the distance from a vertical line between the
  • base support surface (the ground in this
  • case) to the top support surface is ¼ of A.
  • For example, if a wall is 12 high, A
  • approximately 126 and the base of the
  • ladder should be approximately 3 6 from the
  • base of the wall.
  • Also note the extra three feet of ladder
  • beyond the support surface. If a climber is
  • leaving the ladder for the support surface, ie,
  • a roof, OSHA requires the ladder to be a
  • minimum of A3 in length.

Figure 2
19
Ladder Safety
  • Some safety pointers for using straight and
    extension ladders
  • Keep your belt buckle between the rails!
  • Keeping your belt buckle between the rails means
    that you have not
  • extended your weight far over one rail causing
    the ladder to over-
  • balance, slip and fall.
  • Never hand carry loads up a ladder!
  • If tools or supplies are required, carry them in
    your pocket, in a tool
  • belt, or lift them from the ground in a line.
  • Always use a three-point stance!
  • One hand and both feet on the ladder both
    hands and one foot on the ladder. If you must
    work with both hands, hook one leg over a rung
    to hold and support you.

20
Ladder Safety
  • Never stand on the ladders top three rungs!
  • Its easy to overbalance and fall off.
  • Never use a ladder that is damaged or weakened!
  • Never walk a ladder into position while you are
    on it!
  • Climb down and re-position the ladder from the
    ground.
  • Use care around electrical fixtures!
  • You can get an electrical shock on any ladder,
    but dry fiberglass
  • and wood ladders do not normally conduct
    electricity. Using
  • aluminum ladders around electrical fixtures can
    result in
  • electrocution.

21
Ladder Safety
  • Never use a ladder in front of a door unless it
    is locked, blocked or guarded!
  • Never use a ladder in a strong wind!
  • Never have more than one person on a ladder at
    one time!
  • Never carry a ladder in the vertical position.
    Carry a ladder in the horizontal only.
  • Never jump from a ladder!
  • Be certain you are in good enough physical
    condition to climb!
  • Includes not being under the influence of alcohol
    or drugs that
  • make you dizzy, drowsy or subject you to fainting.

22
Ladder Safety
  • Make sure ladders are kept free of oils, greases
    or other contaminants that may cause slipping!
  • Use ladders only for their intended purpose!
  • Ladders are not bridges. If you need to bridge a
    gap with a ladder, a
  • whole different load bearing analysis must be
    done to ensure
  • safety.
  • Secure ladders subject to displacement by other
    inadvertent workplace activities!
  • Keep areas around tops and bottoms or ladders
    clear!
  • Do not move shift or extend ladders while in use!

23
Ladder Safety
  • Ensure the ladder is in good condition!
  • Ensure the ladder can handle the weight!
  • Raise a straight or extension ladder by placing
    the base of the ladder against a wall or other
    resistance, then, beginning with the top rung
    walk the ladder up to vertical. Rest it on the
    upper support, then move the base out to the
    proper location

24
Ladder Safety
3. Raise ladder starting at the top rung.
1. Transport ladder horizontally.
2. Place base of ladder against base of wall or
block.
750
5. Pull the base of the ladder back until the
ladder is 750 relative to the bases support
surface.
4. Raise ladder to vertical position. Hold with
one hand and grasp lower rung with other hand.
Figure 3
25
Ladder Safety
  • Step Ladders
  • Step ladders are self-supporting ladders used to
    work where either there are
  • no upper supporting structures or its not
    desirable to use an upper
  • supporting structure for example, when painting
    a wall or ceiling.
  • Step-ladders have four rails connected by rungs
    (on the working side) and
  • by braces on the opposite side. The rungs and
    braces may be individually
  • braced or otherwise reinforced. The working-side
    rails are connected to the
  • support rails by a solid platform with a pivot or
    hinge at the top, and folding
  • metal tie-rods that prevent the front and back
    rails from separating more
  • than 750 while locking to prevent accidental
    folding. Step-ladders may or
  • may not have folding shelves attached to support
    paint cans or tools.
  • The tie-rods can be unlocked and the step-ladder
    can be folded for
  • horizontal transport in the same manner as a
    straight or extension ladder.

26
Ladder Safety
  • Step-ladders may be made of wood,
  • aluminum or fiberglass. Aluminum
  • Step-ladders have the advantages of
  • high strength to weight and the
  • malleable properties of aluminum
  • that allow it to bend before it breaks.
  • Aluminum step-ladders have the
  • same disadvantages of being highly
  • conductive for electricity and heat,
  • and have the same strength
  • reduction if exposed to heat over
  • 6000 F.
  • Aluminum step-ladders usually do
  • not exceed 20 in height.

Figure 4 Step-ladder
27
Ladder Safety
  • Wood step-ladders are made differently from wood
    straight or extension
  • ladders. Rungs on wood step-ladders are seated in
    dadoes (grooves) in the
  • rails and the rails are held firmly together by
    threaded steel rods underneath
  • the rung. It is very important that the nuts on
    the threaded rods stay tight.
  • Tight rods allow weight placed on the rungs to be
    supported by the surfaces
  • of the dadoes in the rails without slipping. If
    the rods are not tight, the rails
  • may separate allowing the rung to slip out of the
    rail.
  • Wood step-ladders are typically lighter
    construction than wood straight or
  • extension ladders and are usually limited to
    relatively short lengths
  • normally less than 12 in height. Because of
    this, using wood step-ladders
  • on firm level surfaces is especially important!
    Forces must be applied
  • properly to wood step-ladders to prevent breakage
    of the ladder.

28
Ladder Safety
  • Fiberglass step-ladders are strong, durable and
    non-conductive of heat and
  • electricity. They should be chosen for use where
    there are heat or electrical
  • hazards. However, they are heavier and may be
    more difficult to use than
  • aluminum ladders.
  • Use step-ladders on level surfaces!
  • While straight ladders must be placed on level
    footing, the area of level
  • footing required for safe use of a step ladder is
    much larger. All four feet
  • must be on a firm level surface to use a
    step-ladder safely. How much level
  • surface is required varies in direct proportion
    to the length of the ladder.
  • Long step-ladders 16-20 feet - require large
    flat level areas.
  • Using a step-ladder with one or more feet
    improperly supported may result
  • in a fall. If it does not result in a fall, and
    it used regularly in that manner, it
  • will result in twisting of the ladder frame and
    eventual loosening of the
  • rungs and braces potentially reducing the service
    life of the ladder.

29
Ladder Safety
1. Carry ladder horizontally
2. Stand the ladder up vertically.
3. Step to the side facing the side of the
ladder. Rest the ladder on the main rail feet.
Grasp the main rail with one hand, and the rear
rail with the other hand. Spread the rails apart.
5. Climb!
4. Lock the side rail tie-bar /braces in the
horizontal position. The ladder should look like
the letter A.
Figure 5 Setting up a step-ladder
30
Ladder Safety
  • The general safety rules for step-ladders are
    similar for the safety rule for
  • straight and extension ladders.
  • Keep your belt buckle between the rails!
  • Keeping your belt buckle between the rails means
    that you have not
  • extended your weight far over one rail causing
    the ladder to over-
  • balance, slip and fall.
  • Never hand carry loads up a ladder!
  • If tools or supplies are required, carry them in
    your pocket, in a tool
  • belt, or lift them from the ground in a line.
  • Always use a three-point stance!
  • One hand and both feet on the ladder both
    hands and one foot on the ladder. If you must
    work with both hands, hook one leg over a rung
    to hold and support you.

31
Ladder Safety
  • Never stand on the ladders top rung or top
    platform!
  • Its easy to overbalance and fall off.
  • Never stand on the braces on the back of the
    ladder, on the tool/paint shelf, or on the rail
    tie-bar/ side-braces!
  • These structures are not designed to hold your
    weight.
  • Never use a ladder that is damaged or weakened!
  • Never use a ladder in front of a door unless it
    is locked, blocked or guarded!
  • Never have more than one person on a ladder at
    one time!
  • Never use a step-ladder when all four feet are
    not firmly and equally supported!

32
Ladder Safety
  • Make sure ladders are kept free of oils, greases
    or other contaminants that may cause slipping!
  • Never jump from a ladder!
  • Ensure the ladder can handle the weight!
  • Never use a wet ladder for jobs with electrical
    hazards!
  • Used properly and safely, step-ladders are safe
    and useful tools.

33
Key Point Review
  • Portable ladders are normally one of three types
  • Straight
  • Extension
  • Step-ladders
  • Portable ladders are normally constructed on one
    of three materials
  • Wood
  • Aluminum
  • Fiberglass
  • Wood ladders are difficult to maintain and have a
    limited service life. They are used less than
    they used to be.
  • Aluminum ladders are light-weight,
    maintenance-free, strong for their weight and
    bend before they break. Aluminum ladders are good
    general service ladders unless exposure to heat
    or electricity is expected.
  • Fiberglass ladders are strong, durable and
    relatively stable to heat and electricity. They
    are good general service ladders but are somewhat
    heavy.

34
(No Transcript)
35
(No Transcript)
36
Source http//www.safetycenter.navy.mil
37
Source http//www.safetycenter.navy.mil
38
(No Transcript)
39
(No Transcript)
40
Source http//www.safetycenter.navy.mil
41
Source http//www.safetycenter.navy.mil
42
Source http//www.safetycenter.navy.mil
43
(No Transcript)
44
(No Transcript)
45
(No Transcript)
46
(No Transcript)
47
(No Transcript)
48
(No Transcript)
49
(No Transcript)
50
(No Transcript)
51
(No Transcript)
52
(No Transcript)
53
References
  • Baker, David E. and Lee, Rusty, Portable Ladder
    Safety, University of Missouri Cooperative
    Extension Service, National Ag Safety Database at
    http//www.cdc.gov/nasd/docs/d000801-d000900/d0008
    77/d000877.html
  • Climb it Safe, American Academy of Orthopedic
    Surgeons at http//orthoinfo.aaos.org/brochure/thr
    _report.cfm?thread_id20topcategoryInjury20Prev
    ention
  •  
  • Construction Worker Killed by Fall From Ladder
    Washington State, Washington State Department of
    Labor and Industries investigation 98WA08601,
    March 16,2000 at http//www.cdc.gov/niosh/face/sta
    teface/wa/98wa086.html
  • Cyr, Dawna L., and Johnson, Steven B., Ladders,
    Lifting and Falls (bulletin 2326), Maine Farm
    Safety Program, University of Maine Cooperative
    Extension Service, National Ag Safety Database at
    http//www.cdc.gov/nasd/docs/d000801-d000900/d0008
    26/d000826.html
  • Fall Protection Equipment, Lab Safety Supply,
    Inc. Document 130 _at_ http//www.labsafety.com/refi
    nfo/ezfacts/ezf130.htm
  •  
  • Fixed Access Ladders, Canadian Centre For
    Occupational Health and Safety at
    http//www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/safety_haz/ladders/
    fixed.html?oe

54
References
  •  Fixed Ladders, 29 CFR 1910.27, U.S. Department
    of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health
    Administration (OSHA) at http//www.osha.gov/pls/o
    shaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_tableSTANDARDSp_i
    d9719
  • Guidelines on Ladder Safety, University of
    Sidney (Australia) Risk Management Office at
    http//www.usyd.edu.au/risk/policies/ohs/ladders.s
    html
  • Hazards of Working from Fixed Ladders on Tanks,
    Workers Compensation Board of British Columbia
    at http//www.worksafebc.com/publications/health_a
    nd_safety_information/bulletins/worksafe/assets/pd
    f/ws0503.pdf
  • Ladder Safety, DUO Safety Ladder Corporation at
    http//www.wfrfire.com/website/articles/ladsafe.ht
    m
  •  
  • Ladder Safety, Regulatory Training Center at
    http//www.rtc4safety.com/ladder_safety.htm
  •  
  • Ladders and Powerlines, Dominion Power at
    http//www.dom.com/about/safety/ladders.jsp
  • Personal Fall Protection Equipment, Workers
    Compensation Board of British Columbia at
    http//www.worksafebc.com/publications/Health_and_
    Safety_Information/by_topic/assets/pdf/fall_protec
    tion.pdf

55
References
  •  Stairways and Ladders, U.S. Department of
    Labor, Occupational Safety and Health
    Administration (OSHA) at http//www.osha.gov/doc/o
    utreachtraining/htmlfiles/stairlad.html
  • Training Module Proper use of ladders,
    Agricultural Tailgate Safety Training, Ohio State
    University Cooperative Extension Service,
    National Ag Safety Database at http//www.cdc.gov/
    nasd/docs/d001701-d001800/d001706/d001706.pdf

56
Key Point Review
  • Straight and extension ladders may have spurs
    on the feet to prevent slippage in soils, or
    rubber pads to prevent slippage on smooth
    surfaces. Newer ladders may have the two types of
    feet combined and interchangeable through a pivot
    arrangement.
  • Step-ladders require firm level surfaces for safe
    use.
  • The most stable angle for a ladder is
    approximately 750 from horizontal.
  • Keeping the belt buckle between the rails
    effectively keeps the climbers weight centered
    on the ladder and prevents over-balancing.
  • All ladders must be kept in good condition,and
    must not be used if they are not in good
    condition.
  • All ladders must be kept dry and free of oils and
    greases that may cause slips and falls.
  • Straight or extension ladders used to access a
    roof or elevated deck must extend at least three
    feet above the roof or deck in order to provide
    the necessary hand grip surface to enter and exit
    the ladder safely.
  • Ladders must be inspected regularly for loose
    rungs or defective rails or braces. All
    mechanical hardware must be maintained in good
    operating condition. Threaded rods on wood
    step-ladders must be kept tight.
Write a Comment
User Comments (0)
About PowerShow.com