Using a ladder? Stay safe going up and down

When you go up a ladder, you want to make sure you come back down on your own terms.

It doesn’t always happen that way. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are more than 500,000 people treated for ladderrelated injuries in the United States each year.

“Falls from ladders are often the result of user error,” says Aspirus Occupational Therapist Kaycie Berhorst. “Fortunately, this means that ladder falls are entirely preventable with a few safety precautions.”

Before climbing the rungs this winter to hang holiday decorations, check out these tips from the U.S. Product Safety Commission, American Ladder Institute and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons to help you stay safe--before, during and after using a ladder.

Before

• Put on slip-resistant shoes. (Rubber soles are good.)

• Choose a ladder that fits the job--in length and maximum weight load.

• Working with electricity? Don’t use a metal ladder.

• Inspect the ladder for faulty screws, hinges, or rungs.

• Wipe it down to remove any mud or moisture.

• Set the ladder on a flat, firm surface.

• Snap locks or braces into place.

During

• Face the ladder when you go up or down.

• Hold onto--and stay centered between--the side rails as you climb.

• Don’t overreach or lean too far to one side. A good rule: If your belly button passes over the rail, you’re leaning too far.

• Be very careful when pushing or moving objects around as you stand on the ladder.

• Using a stepladder? The highest level for safe standing is the second rung from the top.

• On an extension ladder, don’t go higher than the fourth rung from the top.

After

• Don’t walk away and leave a raised ladder unattended.

For more information about injury prevention, visit www.aspirus.org/injury-prevention.