The gutters need cleaning. Trees need decorating. And the dining room sure could use a paint job before the holidays. It’s ladder season, all right. We rounded up a few safety tips from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, a Rosemont-based non-profit organization representing more than 28,000 orthopedic surgeons around the country.
1. Checking points. Check the ladder for loose screws, for hinges or rungs that may need fixing and for mud or liquids that should be cleaned off. And give yourself the once-over too. Shoelaces: tied. Soles: free of debris and/or greasy or wet substances. Leather-soled shoes: leave them in your closet, they’re too slippery. Wide pants, real long pants, are not for ladder climbing.
2. The setup. Place the ladder on firm, level ground whether indoors or out. Beware of soft, muddy spots outside. Always engage ladder locks or braces before climbing. Make sure the ladder, when extended, doesn’t hit electrical wires, tree limbs or other obstructions. Upper and lower sections of an extension ladder should overlap to provide stability.
3. Key numbers. The bottom of the ladder should be 1 foot away from the wall for every 4 feet the ladder rises. So, if the ladder touches the wall 16 feet above the ground, the base should be 4 feet from the wall. If you’re going to climb onto a roof, the ladder should extend at least 3 feet higher than the rooftop.
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4. No-no’s.
– Don’t sit on top of the ladder or on the pail shelf.
– Don’t overreach. Your belly-button shouldn’t go beyond the sides of the ladder.
– Don’t have a party up there — one person should climb the ladder at a time.
– Don’t be too brave. It’s always prudent to ask someone to hold the ladder while you climb. Stay in the center of the ladder and hold the side rails with both hands.
– Don’t exceed the ladder’s maximum load capacity.
5. Right one. If you’re inside washing windows, choose a step stool or utility ladder.
Choose an extension ladder for big exterior jobs, such as cleaning gutters.
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