Hazard:
Failure to inspect, maintain and replace ladders can result in injury and property damage!
- VSC employees have suffered serious injury from falls due to ladder collapse.
- Tools & material sitting atop ladders fall off, striking and injuring employees below.
- When a ladder falls, employees come in contact with other employees, utilities, walls causing property
- ceiling fixtures, or fall into walls and equipment causing other damage.
Preventative measures:
As outlined in VSC’s Ladder Safety Policy, to prevent falls and injury from ladders a proper inspection of the ladder must be done prior to each use by the person using the ladder. The following safety inspections must be conducted by the user:
- Use only ladders that are in good condition and designed to handle the climbing job that needs to be done.
- Check for cracks, splitting and breaks in side rails.
- Check steps and feet of ladder for grease and mud.
- Inspect steps for binds, cracks, or holes.
- Locking bars on a folding ladder must be functional and locked in place when fully opened.
- No unauthorized modification or repairs of a ladder is allowed.
- Do not store ladder beneath other material or where it may be exposed to chemicals.
- Inspect for any missing parts such as feet and horizontal or diagonal braces.
- Fiberglass Ladders: look for cracks, splintering, or extreme fading of ladder color or manufactures logos.
- ANY damaged ladder must be tagged and removed immediately.
