Falls can happen on the quickest jobs. The right ladder, solid footing and a steady climb make most of the difference.
The essentials
- Choose a ladder tall enough for the job and rated for your weight plus your tools and materials.
- Set an extension ladder’s base about 1 foot out from the wall for every 4 feet of ladder up to where it rests, and let it extend at least 3 feet above the edge you’re stepping onto.
- Open a stepladder fully, lock the spreaders and never stand on the top or the top step.
- Face the ladder, keep at least one hand on it while climbing and don’t carry loads that throw off your balance.
- Look up before you set up, and keep ladders well away from overhead power lines.
Ladders are so familiar that it’s easy to stop thinking about them. Yet a few seconds of carelessness, such as a ladder set at the wrong angle, a stretch to reach one more spot or a climb with your hands full, is all it takes to fall.
The rules below draw on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s ladder standards. Those standards are written for workplaces, not homes, but they’re a sensible benchmark for anyone climbing a ladder, and your ladder’s own labels and instructions apply too.
Choose the right ladder
- Stepladders stand on their own and suit indoor jobs like painting, changing light fixtures and reaching high shelves.
- Extension ladders lean against a wall or roof edge and suit outdoor work like cleaning gutters.
- Height: a ladder that’s too short tempts you onto the top steps. Pick one that lets you work without standing on the top or top step of a stepladder, or that can extend well above the edge for roof access.
- Duty rating: the label on the side rail lists the maximum load. It must cover your weight plus clothing, tools and materials.
- Material: OSHA requires ladders with nonconductive side rails where the user or ladder could contact exposed live electrical equipment. Fiberglass ladders are the common nonconductive choice; aluminum conducts electricity.
Inspect it every time
OSHA expects ladders to be checked for visible defects regularly and after anything that could affect their safe use, such as a fall or being run over. At home, a quick look before each climb is enough:
- Rungs and steps should be tight, level and undamaged.
- Side rails shouldn’t be bent, cracked or split.
- Feet, locks and spreaders should work smoothly.
- Wipe off oil, grease, wet paint or mud, which make rungs slippery.
Don’t use a damaged ladder, even for a quick job. Tag it and repair or replace it.
Set it up on firm, level ground
Place the feet on a solid, level surface, never on boxes, bricks or loose gravel. Keep the area around the top and bottom of the ladder clear. If you’re working in front of a door, lock it or block it so no one opens it into the ladder.
The 4-to-1 rule for extension ladders
OSHA’s standard for leaning ladders sets the base out from the support by about one-quarter of the ladder’s working length, which is the distance along the ladder from its feet to where it rests. In practice:
| Working length of the ladder | Base distance from the wall |
|---|---|
| 8 feet | About 2 feet |
| 12 feet | About 3 feet |
| 16 feet | About 4 feet |
| 20 feet | About 5 feet |
When you use a ladder to reach a roof or another landing, OSHA requires the side rails to extend at least 3 feet above the landing surface. Those extra feet give you something to hold as you step on and off.
Stepladders
- Open the ladder fully and lock the spreaders before you climb, as OSHA requires.
- Never stand on the top or top step.
- Don’t climb the cross-bracing on the back unless the ladder is designed with steps on both sides.
Climb and work safely
- Face the ladder going up and coming down.
- Keep a hand on it. OSHA requires at least one hand on the ladder while you climb. Many safety guides go further and recommend three points of contact: two hands and a foot, or two feet and a hand.
- Don’t carry loads that could make you lose your balance. Use a tool belt, or have someone hand things up.
- Stay centered. Keep your body between the side rails. If you have to stretch, climb down and move the ladder.
- One person at a time, unless the ladder is designed for more.
Safety first
Before you raise a ladder outdoors, look up. Contact with an overhead power line can be fatal, and metal or wet ladders conduct electricity. Keep well clear of lines, and call your utility or a professional for any work near them.
Weather and timing
Skip outdoor ladder work in strong wind, rain or icy conditions. Tired arms and legs make slips more likely, so take breaks on long jobs and don’t rush the last few minutes before dark.
Pro tip
Before a big project, set the ladder up and climb a couple of rungs to test its footing. It’s much easier to adjust a ladder before you’re carrying a paint bucket.
Where to use these rules next
Stepladders come into almost every indoor project, including painting a room. Extension ladders come out every fall for gutter cleaning, one of the jobs on our fall home maintenance checklist. If a job feels beyond your comfort level on a ladder, that’s a good reason to hire help.
Common questions
What does the duty rating on a ladder mean?
It’s the maximum load the ladder is designed to carry, including you, your clothing, tools and materials. Check the label on the side rail and choose a rating with room to spare.
Can I lean a stepladder against a wall?
No. A stepladder is designed to stand open with its spreaders locked. Leaned closed against a wall, its feet aren’t designed to grip at that angle and it can slide out.
Is it OK to use a ladder when no one else is home?
Many small jobs are done alone, but it’s safer to have someone nearby, especially on a tall ladder or at a roof edge, who can steady the base and get help if something goes wrong.
When should I hire someone instead?
Consider a professional for high or steep roofs, any work near power lines, and jobs where you’d have to overreach or haul heavy materials up the ladder.
This guide is general information, not professional advice. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and your local building codes, and hire a licensed professional for electrical, gas, structural or roofing work.