Accidents involving falls from ladders are very common and can result in serious injuries. Common causes of accidents are the use of old and damaged wooden ladders and mishandling of ladders.

For your own safety, stick to the following rules when setting up a ladder:

1. Check ladder for damages. In case of wooden ladder check the stability. Check the maximum load and do not exceed it.

2. The ladder must be set up at an angle of 65 to 75 degrees.

3. Ladder must be placed on firm nonskid ground. Ladders must not be placed on stacks of bricks, panels, boxes, or tables.

4. On carpets, tiles and other slippery surfaces the ladder must be secured against slipping by the use of anti-slip end caps.

5. When setting up a ladder in the garden or on soil, the ladder must be secured against slipping by the use of proper tips on the end of the ladder.

6. Do not lean out sideways on the ladder.

7. Do not lean ladder against windows, doors, bars, loose fences, lines, and other instable objects.

8. Never step on the top rung and never move on to higher grounds.

9. In case of extension ladders and multi-purpose ladders, make sure that all latches are securely fastened.

Figure 1: Incorrect use of a ladder. One side of the ladder sunk into the soil. Ladder is leaning against two points. Guy on ladder is stepping on higher grounds exceeding the top rung.

Figure2: Anti-slip end cap (left) and tip for securing ladder when used on soil and lawns (right).