Ladder Safety Basics for Construction Work

Ladders are the most important used at construction sites and even at home. A ladder is also used for commercial works. It is useful but can be very dangerous if precautions are not taken. However, the risks of accidents can be minimized by simply balancing your posture and maintaining the ladder you are using. No matter what type of step or safety ladders you are using, it is important that you follow proper safety techniques to avoid injury or unnecessary accidents.

The first step towards ladder safety is inspection before placing your first step. The examination should be completed prior to every intended use. When inspecting you should make sure that, the steps and sides are free from any oil, grease, or any other liquid substance. After you have carefully inspected the ladder, before you mount it, it is essential that you make sure that the ladder is set up correctly. Try to make correct angle with the wall. Avoid heavy traffic beneath the ladder.  Never exceed your maximum amount of weight on a ladder. This includes not only your tools and equipment but also you.

Ladders can be useful in many different situations to aid in completing any number of tasks if we use with care. Be sure to follow all instruction and ladder safety tips to avoid any incident.

Ladder Safety Tips

Ladders are dangerous and unsafe if not used properly. Other than construction sites, ladders are used on daily basis, while cleaning windows and pressure cleaning houses. There are some useful tips to make sure that you are completely safe when using ladders. The major accidents occur from incorrect use of the ladder or materials. Before starting a project, it is essential to ensure that you have gone through ladder safety preparations and are familiar with the tools to be used. 

Once you have selected the ladder for completion of your project, ensure that you have the right type of ladder. The different types of ladders are available with their own advantages and disadvantages. The ladder should be placed on a place as well as non-slippery surface making right angle with the wall. If using a stepladder, make sure that the spreader arms are in the locked, open position. Do not carry heavy items while climbing the ladder up or down. You use some type of hoist or pulley system to retrieve the items instead. Always try to maintain balance of your body while climbing up. Do not allow children near the ladder.

These ladder safety training tips will help you to remain safe during the work.  Nevertheless, if you have any questions about the safety concerns about your project, make sure to consult an expert.

Fall Arrest System & Working at Height

Falls are the major cause of serious accidents at construction sites. Every year several accidents occur due to falling from height. Hence, fall prevention is essential for any workplace especially where employees work at heights above ground level. When you work on height, fall arrest system should be used. These types of safety equipments can save you from long distance falls. You can still fall but you will not go all the way to the ground. The fall arrest systems are of different types but main fall into two categories: active fall arrest system & passive fall arrest system.

A personal fall arrest system is a full body harness that the worker must wear when working in certain areas that require the person to be off the ground. It protects the body from dangerous injuries. The worker who wear full body harness need to ensure that the full body harness fits correctly on the torso of the body or not. After wearing body harness, the body harness should be connected to a secure anchor point by lanyards and retracting lifelines to prevent serious accidents if fall occurs. The fall arrest system has to be inspected carefully before wearing. If there is any damage, you should replace it. Fall arrest system is the best way to prevent and reduce the amount of injuries or deaths on the workplace.

Ladder Safety Tips at Construction Sites

Ladders are essential part of height works, mostly used at construction sites. Several accidents occur due to falling from ladders. Hence it is essential to remember ladder safety tips during height work. These are also used in houses for home improvement works. The injuries that people sustain from ladder falls are often serious. Before starting work, it is also essential to give proper ladder training to your workers associated with this work. In order to help improve safety standards for ladder users, it is important to know what the main causes of falls from ladders are. Remember it is always a great risk to work on elevated areas; you may fall down and get some serious injury. So be careful about safety tips while working on ladder. You can minimize the risk of any breakage by simply balancing your posture and maintaining the ladder you are using. However there are some descriptions as well as some important points that may help you in a better way to get rid of this problem.

The first thing you have to follow is inspection of the ladder. Make sure that it is free from any type of liquid. This liquid may be some oil or water spill. However, make sure to minimize the risk of any slippage and serious injury afterward. Place it on plain surface making right angle with the wall. If the ladder is not positioned correctly then it may slip and you may fall down. Moreover, if you are using portable ladder then it may fold beneath you. The ladder base should about one quarter of the height of ladder away from base of wall i.e. twelve foot ladder should be three feet away from wall. If the ladder base distance is any less than one quarter away from wall, the risk of the ladder falling backwards increases. Remember, not to use bricks, boxes, etc. to raise the height of ladders to make them gorilla ladder. Keep your body centered 'between the rails' of your little giant ladder. Wear shoes with 'non-skid soles'. Do not wear 'leather-soled' shoes; they can be slippery. Don't use ladders in passageways, doorways, driveways or other locations where a person or vehicle can hit it. Set up suitable barriers or lock doors shut. Avoid pushing or pulling stepladders from the side. Repeated sideways movement can make ladders wobbly since they are weaker or less stable in those directions. These are some important tips that can help when you work with ladders.

Confined Space Training to Work Safe

Confined space working area may be available at different construction sites. These are also assumed to be a part of construction work. Yet workers may face confined space work in many major field of life. To work at such work places, a pan should be maintained for execution of all work and activities. Several hazards are also present at these places, hence be ensure to remove all these hazards from the work site before starting the project. Always make a master plan. Since working at these types of work is always dangerous hence permission should be taken to start work. Workers also should get Confined Space Training to work safely.  

Ladders are also important when you work on confined spaces. Hence it is also important to take ladder training. The training will help you to improve your skills. With safety trainings, organizations can easily draft an efficient fire emergency plan. Confined space training equips workers with the skills and knowledge necessary to ensure safe entry to confined spaces, including such precautions as testing of air quality, forced ventilation, proper observation and monitoring of workers.  Safety trainings will tell you that it is important to always treat any fire alarm as real emergency. Another important factor that must be considered is the meeting place. During emergencies, occupants must have a designated place so that everyone will be accounted for after evacuation. Of course, it should be away from the building. Oxygen-deficient atmospheres in confined spaces have less than 19.5 percent available oxygen, which means no persons should ever enter without the appropriate protective gear. Never use pure oxygen for ventilating a confined area. Use normal air supply only. Flammable atmospheres can also present a potential safety hazard for construction workers in confined spaces. Accidental injury and death related to working in and near a confined space often occurs as a result of standby and rescue. Sewers, trenches, pits, and storage tanks are some examples of such types of spaces & when you are going to work on these paces take some precautions. Workers working in these areas should be equipped with all safety equipments.

Finally, use ventilating equipment whenever possible to maintain the oxygen level between 19.5 and 23.5%. Toxic gases and vapors, if present should also be kept to within acceptable levels. Nearly two thirds of confined space deaths result from attempted rescues. Workers are to work in a buddy system, to designate another worker to remain outside the confined space to monitor the work, and to provide rescue when required.

Height Safety & Ladder Training

Ladders are major equipment while you work at heights as well as at several construction sites. Hence ladder training is necessary for all workplaces and offices. Major safety tips should be introduced to every workers and employees to be aware of their well being at work place. You may face some several types of risks at workplace. Many workers are not aware of all types of risks and they face serious accidents. Hence it is necessary to take some precaution while using adders.

Working with ladders poses several risks if not used in proper manner. Ladder safety training tips for utilizing a ladder can be used in the workplace and also at home. Before getting on the ladder safety training experts suggest that you first inspect it and make sure there are no damages. If the ladder needs any repairs it is best to avoid using it for any task at hand.

Before propping a ladder up most safety training guidelines recommend that you keep an eye out for overhanging power lines or anything that can pass an electric current through the ladder. All components of ladders must be inspected before each use. All ladders must specify the maximum weight that it is designed to support. Workers must not apply more than that weight. Avoid using a ladder when it is wet. Using a ladder outside in the rain can cause the steps to become slippery and could cause an accident. Health and Safety guidelines will encourage employees to make sure the hinges are locked in place and the ladder is stable before beginning to climb it.

A very important element in the positioning of non self-supporting ladders is the angle between them and the wall they lean against; that angle must be such that the working length of the ladder is about four times the horizontal distance from its foot and the wall. Many Safety experts also urge employees to partner up and have one person hold the ladders below while the other climbs up. While climbing the ladder you should have two hands and one foot on the rungs at all times. For the ladder to maintain its balance, it should be pitched well with the correct angle underneath it. Check for damage. Before and after use, ladders that your company uses need to be inspected for damage. When there are parts that need to be repaired, make sure they are done as soon as possible and before the ladder will again be used.

Fall Protection System to Ensure Safety

Construction is not a safe work since several accidents occur due to falling from heights. Hence, it is necessary to protect workers from serious accidents. Fall protection and fall prevention is necessary at construction sites. A fall protection system is made to prevent you from hurting yourself.

The construction safety system for workers include an evaluation of the correct methods of access to the heights where the work needs to be done, safety precautions being put in place and followed at all times, and regularly clearing the construction work area of all debris.

The fall protection systems are available in different shapes & sizes. The major equipments are guardrail system, handrail system, safety harness, safety nets, ladder safety system, fall arrest system, hooks, etc. The plans for fall protection should be prepared for elevated work if fall hazards exist. The height safety system should be regularly checked and properly inspected for regular approval, weakening, excessive wear and tear, sharp edges, and cracks or tears. Scaffolds, ladders, guardrails, light fixtures, plumbing, rebar, and roof stacks should never be used as anchorage points. With implementation of fall protection system at construction sites, overall onsite construction safety can be greatly enhanced.