Page: 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8Print this page back to Painting & Decorating Take the time to make your ladder safe and
do not take risks when using it: Take the risks away by nipping down to the diy
store and buying a couple of 6 or 8mm steel screweyes. Work out where you are
going to need the ladder, drill a hole in the wall about a foot from the
ground, (make sure you do not drill at the same height as the damp proof
course) fit a wall plug and screw in your screweyes. Tie the bottom rung of the
ladder to this and you are as safe as houses. You can repeat the process for
the top of the ladder as well fixing into the facia board if it’s easier.
Squeeze some flexible, external sealant over the hole afterwards and you will
be able to screw your screw eyes into it again if you should need to.
Step: 1 I. Do not lean sideways on the
ladder. II. Never have more than one
person on a ladder. III. Lean the ladder at a
safe angle -70 degrees is about
right. IV. Secure the foot of the
ladder.
Step 2 I. On soft or uneven ground, rest the
ladder on a stout level board. II. Use stabilisers on hard ground.
Step 3 I. To prevent a ladder slipping, pad the ends of
the stiles with rags and tie the ladder to a strong metal screw eye driven into
the eaves.
Scaffold towers Scaffold towers
are not as manoeuvrable as ladders but provide a safe working platform with
plenty of room for tools and equipment. • Assemble the components
of a tower carefully and check that the platform boards are
secure. • Construct a guard rail around the
platform. • On soft or uneven ground, stand the feet of the tower
on level scaffold boards.
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