Landlord Quick Tip

Tip #227: Leaves and Ladders and Splints, Oh My!

Every year, more than 30,000 people are injured by falling off ladders.

With gutter cleaning season about to begin, now’s a good time to inspect your ladders to make sure they are in good repair.

Engineers go out of their way to make ladders as stable and safe as possible, but it’s still a good idea to watch out for yourself. Many accidents are caused by carelessness, and can be avoided.

The American Ladder Institute has some basic ladder safety tips that could keep you out of the emergency room:

Remember that ladders are tools. Many of the basic safety rules that apply to most tools also apply to the safe use of a ladder;

Wear clean slip-resistant shoes;

The ladder you select must be the right size for the job — the ladder must be tall enough that you won’t have to stand on the top rung or step;

Set-up on firm, level ground that is not slippery;

Don’t lean ladders near closed doors;

Always maintain three points of contact. When climbing, face the ladder and have two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand in contact with the ladder cleats or side rails.

Don’t become a statistic.  It’s worth the extra effort to stay safe.

See last week’s Landlord Quick Tip.

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