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"  You don&amp;#039;t need me to remind you that climbing ladders is potentially dangerous, but that&amp;#039;s exactly what I&amp;#039;m going to do: According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission, about 250,000 Americans required medical treatment in 2012 for stool or ladder-related injuries. And a 16-year study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that 97 percent of ladder accidents happened at home. Follow this advice and it might just keep you from becoming a ladder statistic. Stepladder Safety Stepladders come in several sizes; the three most popular sizes used by homeowners are 4, 6, and 8 feet. Regardless of the ladder size, the following safety rules apply: \u2022 First, when opening a stepladder, check to confirm that the two hinged metal braces, called spreaders, are locked down and straight.  \u2022 Never set up a stepladder on uneven ground. Each of the ladder&amp;#039;s four feet must make firm contact with the ground or floor.  \u2022 Tempting as it may be, never sit or stand on the very top step of the ladder. In fact, ladder manufacturers\u2014and emergency room doctors\u2014recommend never standing above the third highest step. \u2022 Only climb up the front of the ladder, never the back side. Don&amp;#039;t allow more than one person at a time on a stepladder. (The exception is when using a specially engineered two-person stepladder, which has steps on both sides.) \u2022 When working from a stepladder, keep your hips within the two vertical rails. Reaching too far to the left or right could cause the ladder to topple. \u2022 Remove all tools and materials from the ladder before moving it. You really want that hammer falling on your face? \u2022 Lots of people will lean a closed stepladder up against a wall and then climb it. But don&amp;#039;t. It can easily slide out from under you. \u2022 It should go without saying, but I&amp;#039;ll say it anyway: Never stand on the paint shelf. \u2022 Finally, don&amp;#039;t leave stepladders unattended, especially around children. When you&amp;#039;re done working for the day, or if you take an extended break, close the ladder and put it away, or at least lay it down. Extension Ladder Precautions An extension ladder provides the easiest, most convenient way to reach high areas around your home, but with greater heights come greater chances for more serious injury. So be careful.  \u2022 To extend the ladder, first lay it on the ground with its feet braced against the house. Then raise the top end of the ladder and walk it upright hand over hand. Once the ladder is nearly vertical, grab a rung at about thigh-high, lift the ladder slightly, and walk its base back away from the house.  \u2022 Once the ladder is in position, grab the rope and raise the telescopic section of the ladder, known as the fly, to the desired height. Be sure that both rung hooks lock securely onto a rung of the ladder, then tie off the end of the rope to a lower rung. \u2022 To set the proper ladder angle, use a 1:4 ratio: Divide the ladder height by 4, then move the ladder base that far from the house. For example, if the ladder is 16 feet tall, its base should be 4 feet away from the house. \u2022 Both ladder feet should sit firmly on the ground. If one foot doesn&amp;#039;t make contact, don&amp;#039;t stack blocks of wood beneath it. Instead, dig some dirt out from beneath the other foot. \u2022 Never stand an extension ladder on wet, muddy, icy, or snow-covered surfaces.  \u2022 Don&amp;#039;t stand higher than the fourth rung from the top. \u2022 Never set up a ladder anywhere near electrical power lines. \u2022 Always face the ladder when ascending and descending. And use both hands to grab the rungs\u2014not the rails. \u2022 If necessary, wear a tool belt or holster to carry tools and supplies. That way, you&amp;#039;ll have both hands free when climbing up and down.  \u2022 As with a stepladder, keep your hips within the vertical side rails. Don&amp;#039;t overreach to the left or right. \u2022 I don&amp;#039;t recommend climbing onto roofs, but if you must, be sure the top of the ladder extends at least 3 feet above the point of contact. When you reach the edge of the roof, grab the top of the rails with both hands, then carefully step around the ladder.  Ladder Ratings Every stepladder and extension ladder carries a rating based on how much weight it can support. The rating system is divided into different types of ladders. For example, Type III ladders are designated for light-duty household use and can support 200 pounds. A Type II ladder is rated for medium-duty commercial use and can hold 225 pounds. Type I ladders are rated for heavy-duty industrial use and have a 250-pound limit. Type IA ladders are intended for extra-heavy-duty industrial use and can support up to 300 pounds. And finally there&amp;#039;s the Type IAA ladder, which is considered a special-duty professional ladder that&amp;#039;s capable of holding 375 pounds. Note that all weight capacities represent the total weight on the ladder, including the person, tools and materials. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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