In this report
Overview
Steps to ladder safety
Peanut recall list is growing
Canadian Recalls
Also in This Issue
This article was featured in the May 2009 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.

Steps to ladder safety

Last reviewed: May 2009
Man painting window while standing on a ladder
Balancing act
Ladders contributed to approximately 170,000 injuries in 2007.

This article is the archived version of a report that appeared in May 2009 Consumer Reports Magazine.

If the arrival of better weather inspires you to get on your ladder to clean gutters or spruce up the outside of your home, be careful.

Ladders play a big role in thousands of accidents around the home. A Consumer Reports analysis of data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission finds more than 160 deaths and about 170,000 injuries related to ladders in 2007, the latest year for which full data is available.

When we reported on ladders in the September 2006 issue, we found problems with some telescoping ladders, including models that collapsed too quickly.

We also had concerns about tall multiuse ladders between 22 and 26 feet. We found it extremely difficult for one person to safely lift, maneuver, and fully extend them.

Some stepladders had steps that bent under heavy weight or twisted enough for their feet to "walk" slightly when we stood on them and simulated the twisting and weight-shifting typical when a homeowner is painting or sanding.

Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, believes that the existing voluntary standards, which have not been substantially revised since 1980, should be strengthened and made mandatory.

For safety reasons, we recommend choosing a conventional extension ladder for around-the-house projects that are 17 feet or higher. Here are some other tips for using your ladder safely:

  • Be sure to follow the instructions.
  • Extend straight ladders 3 feet beyond the roof or work area.
  • Angle straight ladders 75 degrees from the ground (1 foot for every 4 feet high).
  • Opt for a type 1A ladder to handle users of different weights.
  • Always face a ladder when climbing and descending it. Do not climb beyond the highest step recommended, and don’t reach more than 1 foot to the side.

You should also be aware that over the past few years the government has recalled more than 30,000 ladders from various manufacturers. Go to www.recalls.gov for the latest recall information.

Source: Analysis of CPSC data, 2007. Injuries are estimated, deaths are actual number.