Portable
Ladders Training Guide
(Taken from the "Tailgate Meetings that Work : A Guide
to Effective Construction Safety Training" series) |
|
Robin Baker, Robert
Downey, Mary Ruth Gross, Charles Reiter
Labor Occupational Health Program
(LOHP) School of Public Health,
University of California, Berkeley Ca.
These tailgate/toolbox
talks were developed for use under California OSHA regulations. The
complete set is available from the Labor Occupational Health Program
at UC Berkeley. For ordering information, visit the website (www.lohp.org)
The American Conference of Government Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)
has adapted these talks to apply to federal OSHA regulations. To contact
ACGIH, visit its web site (www.acgih.org). |
Before you begin
the meeting...
- Does this topic
relate to the work the crew is doing? If not, choose another topic.
- Did you read
this Training Guide and fill in the blanks where the
appears? (To find the information you need, look over the Safety Walkaround
Checklist for this topic.)
- Did you bring
a portable ladder so you can show the crew how to inspect it?
Begin: Did you
know that even a six-foot fall from a ladder can kill you? More often, you
might break an arm or leg. When you fall off a ladder on a construction
site, you can land on almost anything, so internal injuries are common.
Falls from ladders
happen because you slip or because the ladder slips. If you're
in a hurry, there's more chance of falling. Take the time to use the right
ladder the right way.
You or a crew
member may want to add a personal story about portable ladders.
Explain:
The main topic today will be portable ladders. They may be either
metal or wood. On many construction sites there are also fixed
ladders. The safety rules for fixed ladders are a little different, and
we won't cover them today.
Next, discuss
with the crew what types of portable ladders will be used at this particular
job site, and where:
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____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
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ASK
THE CREW THESE QUESTIONS:
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After each question,
give the crew time to suggest possible answers. Use the information following
each question to add points that no one mentions.
1. More than
half of all ladder accidents happen because the ladder slips. What are
some ways to keep a ladder from slipping?
- Place the ladder
on a firm, level surface that isn't slippery.
- Use a ladder with
safety feet, especially if you're setting it on a smooth floor.
- Always secure
portable ladders. Nail it to a permanent structure, tie off, or block
them.
- Make sure the
ladder's supports (feet and upper risers) are free of grease and mud.
- Make sure the
ladder is leaning against something secure (not a gutter, window sash,
window pane, or anything that can move).
- If the ladder
is leaning against a smooth surface, have wall grips on the risers to
prevent side slipping.
- Make sure the
ladder is leaning against something secure (not a gutter, window sash,
window pane, or anything that can move).
- Don't set a ladder
on top of boxes or other movable objects.
- Never use a ladder
in high winds.
- Barricade a ladder
if it's in an area where it could get bumped. For example, don't use
a ladder in front of a door that might open, unless there is a barricade
or guard.
2. What's the
correct angle for a ladder?
- Set it one foot
out from the wall for every four feet of ladder length (75° pitch).
3. Nearly a third
of all ladder accidents happen because a person slips. What are some things
you can do to keep yourself from slipping?
- Use a ladder
with non-skid treads (or a nonskid coating) on the rungs.
- Make sure the
rungs are free of mud, grease, and other slippery material.
- Make sure your
shoes are free of mud and grease.
- When you're on
a ladder, don't lean too far out -- never beyond arm's length.
- When going up
or down a ladder, always face the ladder and use both hands.
- Don't try to
adjust an extension ladder when you're standing on a surface above it.
- Don't stand or
work on the top three rungs of a straight ladder unless you're tied
off. At the top, there's nothing to grip.
- Don't step on
any rung above a ladder's upper support. It may cause the bottom of
the ladder to kick out.
- Don't stand or
work at the top (cap) of a stepladder.
- If you use a
stepladder, make sure it's fully open and locked.
4. How should
you carry tools or materials up or down a ladder?
- Use a tool
belt to keep your hands free.
- Pull equipment
and materials up with a line.
5. To make sure
your ladder is in good repair, you should inspect it before and after
each job. When you inspect a ladder, what should you look for?
Using the portable
ladder you brought to the meeting, demonstrate the points below.
- All rungs are
connected securely to the side rails.
- No rungs or side
rails are missing, loose, broken, cracked, or corroded.
- No nails, screws,
or rivets are sheared off or missing.
6. What if a
ladder is defective?
- If you notice
an unsafe ladder don't use it. Report it right away.
- Defective ladders
should be removed from service and tagged.
7. What are some
things to keep in mind when you're choosing a ladder for a specific job?
- Use a ladder that
is safety-approved. Look for a label showing that it meets American
National Standards Institute (ANSI) safety requirements.
- Use a ladder of
the right length. The side rails should extend at least three feet,
but not more than four feet, above the ladder's upper support.
- Use a ladder
that's strong enough to support you.
- Never
splice two ladders together.
- Don't let more
than one person at a time on a ladder unless you're using a ladder that's
specially designed for that purpose.
- Don't use a metal
ladder near live electrical parts or within six feet of high voltage
electrical lines. (Increase the distance for very high voltage). Remember
that electricity can arc. Portable metal ladders should have a warning
label on them to remind you.
- Don't use a ladder
for anything but its intended purpose. For example, don't use it as
a brace or skid. Don't use it horizontally as a walkway or scaffold.
Explain:
Most of the safety measures we've talked about are required by Cal/OSHA.
We have to take these precautions—it's the law. I have a Checklist of
the Cal/OSHA regulations on portable ladders. If you'd like to know more,
see me after the meeting.
(Only if applicable.)
Besides
the Cal/OSHA regulations, we have some additional company rules about
portable ladders.
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Discuss
company rules: __________________________________________________
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Ask:
Do you have any other concerns about portable ladders? Do you see any
problems on our job? (Let the steward answer first, if there is one.)
What about other
jobs you've worked on? Have you had any experience with portable ladders
that might help us work safer on this job?
Date Prepared:_________________________ |
By:_______________________ |
Project
Name/No.______________________ |
Location:__________________ |
NAMES
OF THOSE WHO ATTENDED THIS SAFETY MEETING
|
Tailgate
Meetings That Work : Collection
Published in June, 1994 by: Labor Occupational Health Program, School of
Public Health, 2515 Channing Way, University of California, Berkeley, CA
94720. Phone: (510) 642-5507.
Permission is granted to duplicate these materials for non-profit educational
purposes, provided that copies are not offered for sale.
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