The OSHA death statistic in the US is interesting to me, but one could rationalize that the construction rate in greater, so the deaths would rationally be higher. However I have been on construction sites in other countries, and have found they to be terribly unsafe. The difference I believe is in the precautions that are taken by the workers whom are on the project.
David b.Articulated ladders which is a portable ladder with one or more locking hjnges,which allow the ladder to beset up in many different configurations such as a step ladder or extension ladder and others.Use of this ladder is simple,each pair of joints in the ladder can be locked in one or more positions for different configurations also the locking mechanism is very notions visible to ensure locks are completely engaged and labeled,the feet of the ladder are wrapped in non skid material.Very handy ladder for multiple situations.
David B. (Ladders)Commonly used for task that are at least 2ft above the head,ladders serve multiple purposes when using at home or business such as painting,roofing,cleaning gutters or even accessing crawl spaces,if proper steps are taken with the right procedures ladders are one of the safest ways to access tasks to high that would normally be inaccessible.
This is a Little Giant MegaMax 17 Ladder with Air Deck that is available from Costo that is for sale this week. I plan upon buying this one for doing attic inspections. I’ve noticed that a lot of home inspectors use articulated ladder for gaining access to the attic. This one is good because it is OCSA rated as a IA and supports up to 300 lbs.
According to OSHA concerning ladder safety: Always maintain a 3-point (two hands and a foot, or two feet and a hand) contact on the ladder when climbing. Keep your body near the middle of the step and always face the ladder while climbing (see diagram). Only use ladders and appropriate accessories (ladder levelers, jacks or hooks) for their designed purposes.
It is important to consider conditions that can make ladder use unsafe before using one in the inspection process. Ladders should be used as intended and never modified. If a ladder is damaged it should not be used until it has been repaired
I chose an article on ladder safety for this essay. Falls from a ladder are leading causes of injury and death in the United States. Inspectors should follow safety practices when setting up a ladder and using a ladder in the inspection process.
This is only a three rung step ladder. It is in fairly decent shape for its age. Needs to have the rungs cleaned and I need to check for dents in the aluminum. I may also need to replace the rubber on the feet.
I chose, Check on Your HVAC Systems (Before They Check Out on You), this is a very simple thing that a lot of people just forget to do. Just the basic maintenance between visits by a licensed HVAC company can go a long way to saving you thousands of dollars
Here are 2 perfect examples of what not to do when using a latter. Over reaching on any type of ladder is one of the main leading causes of ladder accidents. Most ladder injuries are caused from a fall of 10’.
Some common causes of ladder injuries include:
mounting or dismounting the ladder improperly;
losing one’s balance;
failing to set up the ladder properly;
over-reaching while on the ladder; and
mis-stepping while climbing or descending.
Statistics Concerning Ladder Dangers
According to the World Health Organization, the United States leads the world in ladder deaths. Each year, there are more than 164,000 emergency room-treated injuries and 300 deaths in the U.S. that are caused by falls from ladders.
Most ladder deaths are from falls of 10 feet or less.
Falls from ladders are the leading cause of deaths on construction sites.
Over the past decade, the number of people who have died from falls from ladders has tripled.
Falls from ladders are the leading cause of ladder-related injuries, followed by using a ladder improperly, using a faulty or defective ladder, and simple carelessness.
This is an articulated ladder. It can be used in multiple configurations. It is of great use on stairs where it can be opened up in an a frame configurations and the legs moved to different heights. It is also easy to carry around in your vehicle.
I chose the image of how to determine the area of a circle. The area of a circle is shown to be pi times the radius of the circle squared. The radius is the distance from the center of the circle to the outside ring of the circle.
The gentleman in the picture is using his ladder incorrectly. Unfortunately, the working height of his ladder is not high enough to clean the gutters of his home (assuming it is all the way extended). Standard practice says that 3 feet of ladder must extend above the roof surface that the ladder is leaning against. In the picture, the ladder barely extends past the gutters. This is a safety hazard.
One of the most important things to consider when using a ladder is its position in relation to the surface on which it rests. Internachi’s standards say that for every four feet of ladder used, one foot of space needs to be between the structure and base of the ladder. For example, if sixteen feet of ladder is used, then the base of the ladder should be located four feet away from the structure. This is to ensure a safe angle on the ladder.
Safe use of a Articulated Ladder:
When using a articulated ladder first inspect the ladder for any damage including but not limited to the safety latches, rungs and the non slip feet. When damage is noted on a ladder discontinue use until the equipment is repaired or replaced. Do not use a damage ladder as it is a safety hazard. When using a articulated ladder be sure that the locking mechanism is securely latched in the desired position.
Z flashing as it applies to wood siding panels:
Z flashing is an important part of the wood panel siding system as it a main line of defense it keeping water intrusion from creating rot and decay of the siding panels. Proper installation of the Z flashing is one of the most effective ways to keep water from behind the panels.
I took a 24’ fiberglass extension ladder and leaned it against a brick building for the purposes of accessing a flat top roof. I did not observe any indications of ladder defect during my inspection. The fiberglass ladder is heavy and relatively safe in that it is hard to move and is non-conductive. The rating on this ladder shows that it is a Type IA which means it can support up to 300 lbs of total weight. It has a total reach of 23’ and a maximum working height of 20’ for accessing this roof. The top of the ladder rests on the parapet wall at approximately 18’ and the base of the ladder is approximately 4.5’ from the building. It should be noted that the rungs, feet, locks, and pulley system are all in good working condition. The feet of the ladder were placed on a level, dry, black top surface. It should be noted that at the time of the inspection, the weather conditions were good for climbing this ladder to access this roof.
This aluminum step ladder is damaged at the top rung. Notice the large, dented, bent area towards the center of the rung. Also, the support brackets for the rung is question are bent. The rung top treads are worn nearly smooth. Judging by the age of the ladder and the condition it’s in, i would recommend replacing this ladder with a new one and properly disposing of this one.
Ladders are the leading cause of deaths on construction sites in the United States. Accounting for 300 deaths a year average and 164,000 emergency room visits. Most of the falls occur from 10 feet or less and are due to poor safey practices or damaged ladders.