Ladder Safety: How to Set Up and Climb a Ladder Without Falling

Hanging lights, cleaning gutters, changing a bulb. Falls from ladders are a leading cause of work injuries, and they happen at home too. Here are the rules from OSHA, the federal safety agency, that keep you on the ladder.

1. Step 1: Check It First

Before you climb, look the ladder over. Bent or cracked parts, loose rungs, or missing feet mean don't use it. Wipe off mud or anything slippery. And read the labels, including the weight limit.

2. Step 2: Solid, Level Ground

Set it on firm, level ground. Never on boxes, buckets, or anything wobbly to get extra height. And look up. Keep ladders, especially metal ones, away from power lines.

3. Step 3: The 4 To 1 Rule

For an extension ladder, use the four to one rule. For every four feet of height, move the base one foot out from the wall. If you're climbing onto a roof, the ladder should stick up at least three feet past the edge.

4. Step 4: Three Points Of Contact

Face the ladder, and keep three points of contact. Two hands and a foot, or two feet and a hand. Keep your body centered between the rails. Don't lean out to reach. Climb down and move the ladder instead.

5. Stay Off The Top

Don't stand on the top step of a stepladder, or the top three rungs of an extension ladder. And use a stepladder only fully open, never folded up and leaned against a wall.