Ladder Safety — Step Ladders
Construction and general industry · Ver en español
Talking points
- Open the stepladder fully until the spreaders lock. A partially opened stepladder is inherently unstable and can collapse without warning.
- Never stand on the top cap or the top step of a stepladder. These positions create a high center of gravity with no support to hold onto.
- Place the ladder on a firm, level surface. If the floor is uneven, find a better location — do not use shims, boards, or bricks to level the ladder.
- Follow the duty rating: Type IA (300 lbs, industrial) is the minimum for most construction work. Type II (225 lbs, commercial) may not be sufficient for a worker plus tools.
- Do not overreach — your belt buckle should stay between the side rails. If you can't reach, move the ladder.
Ask the crew
Is the stepladder you used last time the correct duty rating for your weight plus your tools?
Standards this talk is built on
A toolbox talk is a short safety briefing. It supports the training a standard requires; it does not replace it.
Run this talk with your crew and keep the record
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Sign-in sheet
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| Name | Signature | Date |
|---|---|---|
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