Guest Post
Almost seen as the emblem of a work related accident, ladders are objects many of us fear; and rightly so. Thousands of workers fall victim to ladder falls each year, with some of these accidents even proving fatal. Ladders can slip, slide, tip or even break and for this reason, many of those using them justifiably feel as though they’re never safe from a calamity. There are however a number of precautions and tips that when adhered to, render the risk of a fall to be miniscule, if even there at all.
Get Your Mind Right
Everything starts in the head, and therefore the first piece of advice that is most necessary to give is to get your mind right. Do not approach the ladder with fear or nervousness as this will prevent you from swiftly ascending and descending it. It may also cause you to shake, which is – for obvious reasons – the last thing you’d want to do while on a ladder.
Instead try to overcome any fears or trepidations by following a few invaluable pieces of advice. The first is to never look down while on the ladder, as this will significantly increase your height awareness levels and therefore subsequently also your fear and nervousness. Also make sure that you do not ponder on the height at which you will be – or are – climbing. Likewise divert your minds attention to any thoughts of the ladder potentially being unsafe or dodgy in any way.
Get the Ladder Right
Of course, for you to have any chance of climbing a ladder fearlessly you must have confidence that the ladder itself is safe as milk. Thus upon assembling the ladder in its required position, try to give it a little shake to see if it’s sturdy enough. Make sure there are no cracks or loose hinges on the ladder and also be sure to position the ladder on a flat surface.
Of course, if the ladder you are given was provided by your employer and was unsafe, thereby resulting in you falling, a work accident compensation claim can be rightly made.
Have Someone Reliable On the Other End
Unfortunately, this one requires you to be fortunate enough to work with someone. Nevertheless, having someone reliable firmly holding onto the bottom of your ladder while you’re on it, will improve the stability of the ladder. It will also increase your confidence while on the ladder, decreasing the risks of nervousness and fear contributing to a fall.
Don’t Go Too High and Don’t Do Anything Foolish
Never go all the way to the very top of the ladder. You should always be at least three rungs below the top of the ladder.
Don’t do anything foolish either! Things that can be regarded as foolish includes leaning out from the ladder while on it, facing away from the ladder while climbing, and failing at any point to keep both feet on the rungs of the ladder while working.