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Monday, September 23, 2013

How To Properly Care For And Correctly Use Extension Ladders

By Dale Peck


One of the many useful tools homeowners or people who work in construction are extension ladders. It may be surprising that despite how many people use them they are still often misused. This could be bad for anyone using them as even small falls resulting from improperly maintained or used ladders generally cause more accidents at job sites or around the homes and are one of the biggest factors for causing people to be hurt. By using some basic rules this could easily be avoided.

Whey you get the ladder for use, go over it real good looking for any missing or broken pieces. If you find any broken or bent side rails or any other forms of damage structurally it must be destroyed so it can not be used. The simplest method is to chop it into smaller pieces making it useless.

It must also be looked at for dirt, grime, grease and other forms of debris. If you find these it needs to be cleaned so does not become a safety hazard to use. This must be done every time someone uses it.

Using one is quite simple and typically only requires a few steps. Ensure the ladder is closed completely before you pick it up to move it where you are planning to use it. Chose a spot for setting it up which is mostly level and compacted hard enough that the ladder's feet cannot kick out underneath it.

Put the feet of the ladder against the base of the structure it will be resting on. Go to the front of the ladder and moving one rung at a time hand over hand, carefully walk the ladder up into a vertical position. Keeping it braced against the structure will help you maintain the leverage to keep raising it past the mid point. It is generally best to keep it at least 1/4 the height of the ladder away from the structure.

Once in the upright vertical position, begin walking it to away from the wall to the spot you will place it. Gently allow the upper part fall down against the wall. It is often easier to accomplish while standing behind the ladder with your back against the wall. If you need it to be higher, carefully pull on the rope until the top most section is raised up to the right height.

While raising it up, always keep your foot on the very bottom rung to stop it from kicking away from the wall. Try raising it about 3 feet over the height you are planning to be working with. Make sure your rung locks are engaged properly and it remains stable before beginning to climb on it.

Good working extension ladders are difficult to beat for getting at hard to reach spots at work or around the house. If they are not used correctly they may cause people to get hurt. It is important to maintain and use them correctly. Always use your gut instincts so the only thing finished is what you are doing.




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