March is Ladder Safety Month

This is Ladder Safety Month and the Illinois Department of Labor has some tips for ladder use at home and on the job. The Department’s Hap Hileman says first you should only use the ladder for its intended purpose. That means a typical A-Frame ladder shouldn’t be left folded and leaned against the house like you would an extension ladder. If you are using an  extension ladder, it should be three feet taller than the surface you are accessing. Hileman also says you need to pay attention to weight limits. According to the U.S. Consumer Product safety Commission, about 500-thousand people are injured and 300 die each year in ladder-related incidents.