According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, some of the most common causes of ladder injuries include:
- Workers not being trained adequately on ladder safety
- Ladder being in poor condition
- Improper selection, care or use of ladder, including incorrect positioning
- Using unsafe work practices
- Using the wrong ladder for the specific job
- Using defective ladders
What you should do:
- Inspect the ladder each time before you use it.
- Maintain three points of contact when climbing up or down a ladder.
- Ensure that you’re using the right equipment for the job.
- Us a rope and bucket to raise tools and equipment to your final position.
- If you’re not sure how to do something, ask.
Your safety is Argonne’s top priority!
This information, courtesy of Frank Curran (HSE), is also available online as a one-page safety share. Feel free to print this info and use it to help kick off a team discussion at your next meeting with colleagues and/or staff.
All employees are encouraged to submit safety shares for inclusion in the Safety Share Library. Submission details are available on Inside Argonne.
Each month a safety share submitted by an individual will be selected to receive a Spot Award for demonstrated safety leadership. The Spot Award program offers three award levels: gold ($100), silver ($50) and bronze ($25).