Ladders

1. UNIT 7 LADDERS SAFETY
It is necessary for firefighters to understand the design, characteristics and uses of fire service ground
ladders. They provide access to elevated locations and are often the only means of escape from life-
threatening situations. The primary function of ladders is to provide safe access to and egress from
otherwise inaccessible areas. Portable ladders, including extension, step and roof ladders, are
frequently required for fire and rescue service operational activities

2. LADDER
Self supporting
Non Self supporting
Step ladder
Platform ladder
Straight ladder
Roof ladder
Extension ladder

3. Definitions:
A structure consisting of two long sides crossed by parallel rungs, used to climb up and down.
An appliance or equipment usually consisting of two side rails joined together at regular intervals with
cross pieces like steps, rungs or cleats and used in ascending or descending between two points at different
levels. (IS: 3696 -Part 2 Ladders)
A device consisting of two beams (side rails) joined at regular intervals by cross pieces called rungs on
which a person is supported during climbs for ascending or descending.

4. Ladder Hazards: the use of ladders presents many hazards. Injuries involving ladders
frequently cause permanent disability.
The hazards associated with ladders include:
falls from ladders
struck by falling ladders
struck by materials falling from ladders
tripping over ladders (erect or lying on floor)
lifting heavy ladders
striking persons or objects when carrying ladders
contact with electrical equipment
Controls: Develop a policy on ladders which covers use, inspection, repair, and disposal.
Establish safe practices for the use of ladders. Make sure they are followed.

5. Types of Ladders
A portable ladder is a ladder that can readily be moved or carried, with side rails
joined at predetermined intervals by steps, rungs, cleats. When properly selected,
erected, and used, portable ladders temporarily provide one of the following:
A passageway to other surface levels.
The means of support while performing elevated work
All portable ladders have side rails that end at their base with feet, shoes, or slip resistant bearing surfaces.
After a Portable ladder is erected, it will be either self-supporting or non-self-supporting.
Mainly two types of portable ladder
1:Self supporting
2:Non self supporting ladder

6. Self-supporting ladders: These ladders have three or four side rails (legs). When erected, these
ladders stand on their own without external assistance. Ex: Step Ladder, Platform ladder etc. They
have larger footprints than non self- supporting ladders because they have front and rear side rails.
This can be an advantage over non selfsupporting ladders such as extension ladders that require the
footprint to be set back from the upper-support surface to achieve a safe ladder angle.
Step Ladders: “Step ladder” means a self-supporting portable ladder, non-adjustable in length, having flat
steps and a hinged back. Its size is measured along the front edge of the side rails. “Steps” means the flat
crosspieces of a ladder on which a person may step to ascend or descend.
The stepladder should have an “A” frame with a small working platform at the top, which can be used to hold
tools and materials. The platform should never be used to stand on. Ladders shall be provided with an
automatic locking device or spreader to hold it in an open position.

7. Non-self-supporting ladders: These ladders, when erected, have two side rails (legs) and must
lean against a strong, stable structure to remain standing. This structure provides all non self
supporting ladders with an “upper-support” also known as a “top support.” Ex: Straight Ladder,
Extension Ladder etc. These ladders have two rails, and require an additional upper-support
surface (such as a wall) to remain standing. Since two rails create a smaller footprint than three
or four
Straight ladder: “Single / straight ladder” means a non-self-supporting portable ladder, nonadjustable in
length, consisting of only one section. Its size is designated by the overall length of the side rail. Most
common lengths range from 4 to 8 m. They are also called as Wall ladders / Straight (wall) ladders. They
are u sed for quick access to windows and roofs of one and two story buildings.

8. Extension ladder: “Extension ladder” means a non-self-supporting portable ladder adjustable in
length. It consists of 2 or more sections traveling in guides or brackets so arranged as to permit
adjustment of the ladder’s length. Its size is designated by the sum of the lengths of the sections
measured along the side rails. The overall length of the extended ladder shall not exceed 18 m. The
sliding section shall not exceed two in number
Roof or Hook Ladder: Roof Ladder is a single ladder equipped with hooks at the top end of the ladder that
provide means of anchoring ladder over ridge of pitched roof. Generally lie flat on roof surface so
firefighter may stand on ladder for work. Used on a sloped roof and can be used as a standard straight wall
ladder. Not designed to be used as a hanging ladder. Roof Ladder distributes firefighter’s weight, helps
prevent slipping. Generally, their Lengths range from 4 metres to 8 metres.

9. Folding Ladders (Attic Ladders): Folding Ladders is a single-section ladder with rungs that can be
folded or moved to allow the beams to be brought into a position touching or nearly touching
each other. A ladder designed for use in inaccessible areas where ordinary ladders will not fit: the
rungs fold completely into the beams when fully closed.
They have hinged rungs allowing to be folded so one beam rests against the other. Common
lengths from 2.5 to 5 m; 3 m most common

10. Applications - Industrial and Construction Sites
A portable ladder is primarily used for gaining access to areas above or below the ground, or
other levels that are not provided with permanent access.
Some stepladders have a working platform on which to stand and these should only be used
when the height of the work is compatible with the height of the platform. These platform ladders
should have guardrails around the working platformand storage.
Roof Ladders are used for roof works / roof repair works.

11. Other Uses of Portable Ladders:
Used to Bridge a Fence - At times, it's necessary to gain access to a particular area surrounded
by a high fence with no immediately available entry way
Used as a Barrier - Portable ladders may be utilized as barriers to dangerous areas or conditions,
to protect members or civilians from injury.
Used in a Tower Basket for rescue: For the purpose of saving life in extreme emergency
conditions, a portable ladder may be used, erected from a Tower Ladder basket to gain an extra
height.
Portable Ladder may be used for bridging purposes over unsafe floor, two tall buildings
Portable Ladder can be used as an improvised stretcher.
Portable ladders may be used in an emergency to shore excavations, or reinforce weakened
walls.

12. What are the Construction features of conventional
Ladders ?
A ladder’s load-supporting rails are constructed from wood, metal, or reinforced plastic. But while
selecting any type ladder following factors of working area should be considered :
Physical impact Vibration Chemical corrosion Moisture / Humidity
Thermal extremes Sparks Ultraviolet radiation (uv light) Static
Electricity/ Electricity
Wood: Wood provides a natural feel and good insulation against heat and cold. However, untreated wood
ages quickly; wood ladders need a protective coat of clear varnish (not paint) to keep the wood from drying
and splitting.

13. Metal ladder :
There are a wide variety of metals available but aluminum ladder used most commonly.
Aluminum ladders are lightweight and corrosion resistant. Aluminum will not crack with rough handling, but
it doesn’t insulate well against heat and conducts electricity.
Never use aluminum ladders for work near energized electrical lines or with energized tools.

14. Reinforced plastic:
Reinforced plastic is a plastic that has been embedded(Mixed) with high-strength fibers, which
results in a finished material that is significantly stronger.
Reinforced plastic used for ladder construction is commonly known as fiberglass. ]
Fiberglass is durable, weather resistant, and nonconductive when clean and dry.

15. Beam The solid structural side member of a ladder, supporting the rungs
Rungs The ladder crosses pieces on which a person steps while ascending or
descending.
Tip or top The upper end of a ladder.
Rail The top or bottom section of a beam
Tie rod A metal bar that connects one beam to the other.
Butt plates /
Cleats/Spikes /
Spurs / Shoes
The steel spikes mounted on the butts to provide a more secure base
for the ladder on hard surfaces such as concrete. They also serve as a
protection against excessive wear on the ends of ladders.
Heat Sensor
Label
A label that changes color at a preset temperature to indicate a
specific heat exposure
Working
Length
The length of a non-self-supporting portable ladder measured along
the beams from the base support point of the ladder to the point of
bearing at the top.
Construction features of a typical portable ladder include the following
components:

16. Extension ladder – Definition, Terminology, Constituent parts, Operational use
Definition: A non-self-supporting portable ladder adjustable in length. Consists of two or more
sections traveling in guides or brackets or the equivalent and so arranged as to permit length
adjustment.
Extension ladders is lean-to-ladders have two or three sections with proper locking system. The
upper sections can slide in guides or brackets so arranged that the length of the ladder can be
varied as required between the fully extended position and the fully retracted position. Extension
ladders are made from wood, aluminum and fiberglass and come in various lengths. Choosing the
right ladder for the job is very important. Because wood and metal are great conductors of
electricity, it would be best to use a fiberglass ladder for doing electrical work.Extension ladders
range in length from 5 metres up to and exceeding 12 metres.

17. Bed section Bed/base/main section is the lowest and widest section of an extension ladder. This section
is always in contact with the ground.
Fly section The upper section(s) of extension ladders and some combination ladders. Fly sections are
the sections that move.
Guides slots or channels on an extension ladder that hold the flysections in place
Halyard The rope or cable used to extend the fly sections.
Pulley A small wheel used to change the direction of the halyard pull.
Ladder locks A locking mechanism that secures an extension ladder in the desired extended position by
engaging the beams of the fly ladder to the rungs of the bed ladder or Mechanical locking
devices that secure the fly sections.
Pulley wheel attached to the bed ladder of an extension ladder, through which the halyard is
drawn.
Rails The two lengthwise members of a ladder beam, which are connected by the gusset plates
Safety shoe A butt plate consisting of rubber tread and a spike. It may be used with either the rubber
or the spiked end on the ground.
Gusset plate A flat metal plate used in constructed ladders, which connects the rails of the beams and
supports the rungs.
Stops A limiting device on extension ladders to prevent fly ladder from overextending
out of the bed ladder / Pieces of wood or metal that prevent the fly sections from
becoming overextended.

19. Safe use of ladders:
Falls from ladders in the industry / construction industry have resulted in a significant number
of serious and fatal injuries, even when working at relatively low heights. While ladders are
often considered to be the first option when working at heights, they should only be used, if
safer alternatives such as scaffolding, elevated work platforms (EWP) have been assessed first
and are not reasonably practicable for the task.
..

20. How to use ladder Safely ?
A ladder must be used on a solid and stable surface to prevent it from slipping or toppling over.
When using a ladder:
Always maintain ‘three points of contact’ while going up, down or working from a ladder.
Do not over-reach. Over-reaching can lead to the ladder tipping sideways.
Do not use equipment or tools primarily designed to be used with two hands (e.g. hammer drills,
circular saws, nail guns)
Make sure that no one works underneath the ladder.
Do not allow anyone else to be on the ladder at the same time.
Face the ladder when going up or down or when working from it.
Always stand on a rung that is at least 900 mm from the top
Non-self-supporting ladders should have a set-up angle of 75 degrees or 4:1 rules must be followed
that is for every 4 meter ladder ,1 meter distance from bottom of wall

21. Pitching and Climbing hints
Pitching and climbing hints are to be observed strictly by fire officers/safety officer / Supervisors
so as to enable them to pitch the ladders properly and to climb safely and efficiently for rescue,
firefighting and construction purposes.
A. Pitching: Pitch refers how place ladder on ground before use, there should an angleof 75 between
the horizontal and the ladder, which is measured on the side of the ladder opposite the climbing side.
It is usually expressed as the ratio H/L.
a) A ladder must be used on a solid and stable surface to prevent it from slipping or toppling over.
When using a ladder
b) Head of the ladder must be well above the sill of the window. It is then easier to step “ON” or to
step “DOWN” the ladder even when bringing down a casualty.
c) Where a window is narrow, ladder should be kept in such a way that it rest on the wall
preferably to right side and not on the windowsill, so that the maximum space is left for working
and entering the building.
d) Ladder should be pitched at a safe working angle(75) in which case the distance of the head of
the ladder from the wall should be between one-fourth of the bottom of the ladder.

22. Climbing: When climbing a ladder, it is safest to utilize Three Points-of-Contact because it minimizes
the chances of slipping and falling from the ladder. At all times during ascent, descent, and working,
the climber must face the ladder and have two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand in
contact with the ladder steps
Hints for Climbing:
a) Ladder is to be climbed steadily by keeping the body erect, the arms straight and slightly
looking upwards. The climber should not watch his feet while ascending or descending the
ladder.
b) The feet must kept towards the center of the rungs
c) keep your body centered between side rails
d) Keep a firm grip
e) Make sure that foot wear is in good condition
f) Rise or lower tools and material using a using bucket tied with rope

23. Safety Holds – Leg lock, Arm hold, Leg lock facing away from ladder, Body hold, and Crotch
hold.
Safety Holds: When work is undertaken from a ladder, rather than using it solely as a means of access
or egress, it is categorised as a work platform. Ladders should only be used as work platforms where a
risk assessment shows that the use of other work equipment is not justified.
It is necessary to perform work on a ladder, which requires the use of both hands. The following safety
holds allows free use of both hands. They are referred to as leg-lock, arm hold, body hold, and crotch-
hold because there are several types of ladder and physical difference between individuals,

24. Leg- Lock: While working on a ladder, sometimes it becomes necessary to have both hands free to
direct a jet, to handle a small ladder or some small gear etc. This can be accomplished by taking
“Leg- Lock” on the ladder. To do this, the ladder man must stand on one rung and keep the other leg
over the second rung above the one on which he is standing. Then he should bend the leg and use
the inside of the knee and back of the calf of the leg to make himself steady.

25. Arm hold: When working a branch from a ladder, it is at time advisable to put one hand round a rail
before grasping the branch, while the other directly holds the base. This is known as armhold. This
procedure is particularly helpful in extremely cold weather

26. Leg- Lock facing away from ladder: The climber keeps his leg through the ladder over the second
round above the one on which he is standing, then brings it back over the first round and hooks his
foot over rails. Care must be taken to ensure that the top of the ladder is secured, so that pulling
action won’t pull ladder away from the building.

27. Body Hold: The body hold gives more freedom to the man being secured and is particularly
helpful in holding a man, who is operating tools from a ladder. Where the worker secured by
safety harness or life line
Crotch Hold: One man to secure another man on a ladder uses the crotch hold. The man being
secured may face either toward or away from the ladder depending on the work to be performed.
Take a position on the rung below the one on which the other man stands and pull him to support
from his behind

28. Elementary Knowledge of Turn Table Ladder( TTL)
A turntable ladder (TTL) is perhaps the best-known form of special purpose aerial apparatus, and is
used to gain access to fires occurring at height using a large telescopic ladder, where conventional
ladders carried on conventional appliances might not reach
Definition: A turntable ladder is a self-supporting and power-operated extension ladder mounted on a
turntable platform at the rear of a heavy, chassis approximately above the back axle, where the ladder itself
usually consists of a main ladder, secured by a strong pivot bearing to the swinging frame, and three or four
extensions which extend telescopically.

30. Depress to lower the head of the ladder by reducing the angle of
elevation
Elevate to raise the head of the ladder by increasing the angle of
elevation
Extend to increase the length of the ladder
Projection the horizontal distance measured from a vertical line dropped
from the head of the ladder to the center of the turntable
Shoot up to extend the ladder with a firefighter already at its head
Train (to
right or
left)
to move the head of a ladder by rotating the turntable.
Terminology: To avoid any confusion the Fire and Rescue Service has adopted a
standard terminology for use when referring to the various operations.

31. Key functions of a turntable ladder: The key functions of a turntable ladder are:
Allowing access or egress of firefighters and fire victims at height.
Providing a high-level water point for firefighting (elevated master stream).
Providing a platform from which tasks such as ventilation can be executed