A-Frame Ladder Safety Series, Part 2

The Three-Point Rule and the Temptation at the Top

Now let's talk about actually using your A-frame ladder safely, because this is where most accidents happen.

Three Points of Contact: Your Safety Lifeline

When you're climbing up or down a ladder, you need three points of contact with the ladder at all times. That means two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand. This rule is non-negotiable.

What does this mean practically?

All your tools, equipment, and materials need to be secured in pockets, tool belts, or handed up to you once you reach your working position. Carrying stuff while climbing is asking for trouble.

The Working Position: When You Can Let Go

Once you've climbed to your working height and you're no longer going up or down, the rules change slightly. Now you can lean into the ladder and use it for support while you work. Your knees and torso against the ladder become that crucial third point of contact, freeing up your hands to do your job.

But as soon as you need to move up or down again, everything goes back into your belt or pockets, and both hands return to the ladder.

The Dangerous Temptation: That Top "Step"

Here's where we see most ladder accidents happen. At the very top of your A-frame ladder, there's what looks like another step, but it's clearly marked "DO NOT STAND OR SIT ABOVE THIS LEVEL."

This isn't a suggestion, it's a hard safety rule. Standing on that top platform might seem like it would give you just the extra reach you need, but it's actually putting you in an extremely unstable and dangerous position.

We get it. You're up there, you're almost done with your task, and you just need to reach a little bit higher. The temptation to step up on that top platform or overreach can be overwhelming, especially when coming down to get a taller ladder feels like it'll take forever.

But if you're tempted to stand on the top of your A-frame ladder, you have the wrong tool for the job.

When that happens, you need to climb down, put your current ladder away, and get the right equipment, whether that's a taller ladder, scaffolding, or a different type of ladder altogether.

The Bottom Line

Ladder safety isn't complicated, but it requires discipline. The few minutes it takes to get the right tool for the job is always worth it compared to the potential consequences of a fall.

Remember: your safety training and equipment are only as good as your commitment to using them correctly, every single time.

Learn more about our safety program here - https://www.tawneyinsures.com/safety