Support all four corners( both feet and both top rails) on solid surfaces. Never rest the ladder on the top rung. Set the ladder at about 75 °: stand with toes against the rails and arms straight; you should be able to grasp the rails at shoulder height. Reposition extension ladders only from the ground after retracting. Never adjust position or extend length from above.
Safe Usage Climb slowly and deliberately. Maintain three points of contact. Face the ladder and keep both hands available— use a tool belt, towline or an assistant to raise tools and materials.
While working, stay centered and controlled. Keep your belt buckle( center of your body) between the side rails. Don’ t overreach or lean— move the ladder instead. Avoid sudden movements and wear clean, slip-resistant work shoes.
And keep the no-go zones clear: for stepladders, never stand on the top step / top cap or straddle the top. For single / extension ladders, don’ t stand on the top three rungs.
Ladder Transport and Storage
Properly secure your ladder during transport to avoid excessive wear and loading at the vehicle support points. Store ladders where they are protected from unsafe materials, impact or corrosion damage.
Do not use a ladder as a storage shelf.
Consistency Equals Safety
Safe ladder use comes down to consistency: choose the right ladder, inspect it, set it correctly, climb with control and store it the right way. Contractors can reduce risk by reinforcing these basics with regular, specific training. Workers should treat ladders like the precision access tools they are— built to be used in specific ways.
The ALI maintains online safety resources that professionals can incorporate into their own safety initiatives. Laddersafetymonth. com maintains flyers, videos, articles, webinars, podcast
interviews, safety checklists and more. From here, users can also access ALI’ s complete ladder safety training. Curriculum is updated regularly; the association has recently added new content for both stepladders and extension ladders.
Ladder Safety Month is an annual reminder— but ladder safety isn’ t annual. It’ s every job, every setup, every climb. The next time someone reaches for a ladder, it should trigger the same mindset as any other tool on site: right equipment, right condition, right method— every time.
Mike VanBree is director of product safety and engineering at Louisville Ladder Inc. and current president of the American Ladder Institute( ALI), a nonprofit trade association dedicated to promoting ladder safety.
12 March 20, 2026 www. contractorshotline. com