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Reldro

Toolbox talk: ladder safety

How to choose, inspect, set up, and climb a ladder. About 5 minutes.

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  • About 5 minutes
  • 6 points
  • Attendance recorded in Reldro
Two people on a scaffold platform looking over an open building site

Why this matters

Ladders look simple, and that is why people get hurt on them. Most ladder falls happen from a low height on an ordinary job.

What to cover

  1. Pick a ladder that is tall enough, so you never stand on the top two steps.
  2. Look it over before you climb: rails, rungs, feet, locks. A damaged ladder gets tagged and removed.
  3. Set it on firm, level ground. An extension ladder goes up about 4 feet for every 1 foot out, and 3 feet above where you step off.
  4. Face the ladder, keep three points of contact and keep your belt buckle between the rails.
  5. Carry tools on a belt or hoist them. Never carry something that stops you holding on.
  6. If you have to stretch to reach, climb down, and move the ladder.

Ask the crew

  • What would make you choose a lift or platform instead of a ladder?
  • Where is the ladder you wouldn't use on this site, and why?
  • Who checks the ladders here before they go out?

One thing to do today

Walk the site and tag any ladder that is damaged.

Use this toolbox talk in Reldro

  • It arrives ready to edit, and your crew uses it on their phone, even without signal.
  • Failed items become corrective actions with an owner and a due date.
  • Every completed one is kept with the site, the date and who did it.
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