Over 20,000 people are injured in falls from ladders in the US every year. Ladder safety is really important both inside and outside the home. There are some special safety considerations when setting up ladders indoors that you need to be aware of.
Instructions
Set Up Indoor Ladders
1. Read and follow the safety instructions individually printed on the side of every ladder, whether you are using an extension ladder, a stepladder or a combination-type ladder. It goes without saying that you should not use old, bent, broken or splintered ladders. Every part of a ladder is important for ladder safety and if parts are missing or damaged, you can hurt yourself. The safety instructions are affixed by law to the side of every ladder and contain valuable safety information.
2. Avoid ever setting an extension ladder on a drop cloth over a slick, smooth floor, ever. All types of ladders have non-skid rubber feet. They are designed to grip securely as long as the ladder is at the proper extension and on a level surface. However if you put the ladder on a drop cloth set over a slick floor like vinyl or wood, the feet have nothing to grip to and the ladder can slip out from under you. Even if the angle of the ladder up against the wall is correct, the base of the ladder can still slip out when the weight of a person is near the top. You can set a stepladder on drop cloths like this, but be aware it is still not quite as stable.
3. Remember the base should be about one quarter of the extended length from the wall, when setting up an extension ladder inside, . In other words, a 16' ladder base should be no more than 4' away from the wall. It is a very common mistake to set the ladder base too far away from the wall, because to the untrained eye it looks like it will be less steep and therefore safer. Actually the opposite is true and it is very unsafe this way.
4. Keep your body between the rungs and move it instead of leaning over and reaching. Remember the "three point rule." Two feet and one hand, or two hands and one foot, should always be on the ladder.
5. Buy rubber sleeves that fit over the top rails of the ladder to cushion the weight, to avoid leaving black ladder marks on the wall when leaning an extension ladder up. Alternately, you can tape rags or toweling around the top of the rails so it won't gouge or mark your wall.
6. Rent a ladder leveler, which creates a secure platform on which to set the ladder if you have to reach an area over a stairway and set the ladder on the stairs themselves. This is much safer than using blocks of wood or a stack of books to make your ladder level.
Related posts
Step ladders can help you complete home improvement projects.For the do-it-yourself home improvers out there, you might at some point find that you want to tackle a project that requires a ladder....
Painting a wall is a relatively quick, easy and inexpensive way to update the look and feel of a room. So it makes sense that painting a room is the most commonly undertaken do-it-yourself project...
"Roller Coaster Tycoon 3," or "RCT3," is a 3-D amusement park simulator that features an in-depth roller coaster creation system. You can design a variety of roller coasters, i...
Cream is a warm alternative to white that opens up a space and matches most furniture.This might not surprise you, but many of the most common indoor paint colors are earth tones and neutrals beca...
Using indoor paint for silk screening is a tricky proposition, due to its thin viscosity and quick-dry properties. But printing with paint can be mastered by following a few simple printing tips.W...
