Ham Shack Safety
By John Armstrong, KG5LWD
I wrote this article for antoher radio club about three years ago, but
thought it important enogh to republish. We all have probably read arti-
cles on electrical and RF safety when putting together our ham shacks.
In fact, these issues are covered in ham radio training materials whether
studying for the Technician, General or Extra licenses. Also covered
are safety concerns about climbing radio antenna towers. But, little at-
tention is really given to ladder safety.
As amateur radio operators, we often use ladders to do maintenance on
our antennas, to install coax somewhere around our home and radio
shack or to climb up on the roof or into the attic of our home to install
an antenna. Most of the time little thought is given to what could hap-
pen to us as a result of a fall from a ladder. And for most of us, we are
no longer spring chickens and don't bounce like we once did in our
younger years. A fall from a ladder from just one or two feet can be cat-
astrophic.
For this writer, ladder safety hits close to home since he experienced a
fall in April 2016 that put him into the hospital for a month and will suf-
fer from the fall for the remainder of his life due to traumatic injury to
the left side of the body with nerve, muscle and tendon damage.
Everyone probably gives little thought when climbing a ladder and
we've probably heard the saying “It's as easy as falling off a ladder”.
That statement is quite true. And what goes up, must come down is an-
other true statement. However, we have the ability to dictate how we
come down from the ladder; either safely or via a fall. The latter part
can be deadly. That last step can be a Lulu with dire results.
Did you know that falls in the United States are the leading cause of un-
intentional death nationwide? And
43 percent of fatal falls over the
last 10 years have involved the use
of a ladder.
In the work place, about 20 per-
cent of the fall injuries have lad-
ders involved, whereas in the con-
struction industry, about 81 per-
cent of the fall injuries involving
ladders required treatment in hos-
pital emergency rooms.
So for amateur radio operators, it
may be guessed that we fall some-
where in-between those percent-
ages seen in the work place though there don't seem to be any statistics
supporting this notion.
According to a Consumer Product Safety Commission report, it sheds
some concerning statistics regarding the number of ladder related acci-
dents in this nation. Those statistics indicate that thousands of people
are injured while hundreds are killed resulting from falls from a ladder.
In the United States, over 90,000 people go to a hospital
emergency room as a result from injuries sustained while us-
ing a ladder.
1
Over 700 occupational related deaths have resulted from falls
and account for about 15% of occupational related deaths.
OSHA has indicated that virtually all accidents using a ladder
could be prevented if individuals paid attention to the equip-
ment condition and how it was being used via proper training.
Over the last decade, injuries resulting from using a ladder
have increased by more than 50%.
Half the accident ladder related injuries involved individuals
carrying something as they climbed. Approximately 50 per-
cent of the ladder related deaths are attributed to head injuries.
Bone fracture accounted for 32% of ladder related injuries.
There are several types of ladder accidents that can be grouped into dif-
ferent categories. Each of these accidents are completely avoidable if
we pay attention to some basic tips.
1 Many of us use the wrong type of ladder. Many of us use lad-
ders that can not tolerate our weight. Let's face it, lot's of us
are over weight and when we put on those pounds, our weight
can easily surpass the rated capacity of the ladder. The excess
weight can cause the ladder to fail and we end up being in-
jured.
2 Also, we often use ladders that are not appropriate for the job
due to their insufficient height. Using a ladder that is too short
is a recipe for an accident. And often times, a ladder will be
placed on another surface to extend its reach to obtain the
necessary height. Again, this is another recipe for disaster.
3 Many times we use ladders that have some sort of damage or
are worn out. After a few years of use, ladders do wear out
after being put though the stress of people climbing up and
down them. Stress fatigue can occur in the material the ladder
is made of and can fail and break over time. This type of fail-
ure can result in serious injury. Keep in mind that ladders are
like the medications you take. They have a shelf life, expira-
tion life or whatever you want to call it after a couple of years
if used regularly. And even if the ladder is new, it should be
inspected prior to each use to make sure it does not have any
damaged to it. If damaged, the ladder should be either re-
paired to manufacturer's specifications or replace it. Ladders
are easily replaced. But, you, are not so easily replaced.
4 Human error is by far the leading cause of ladder related acci-
dents. Do not use a ladder in any manner that deviates from
what the manufacturer designed the ladder to do. Never try
to lengthen the ladder. When climbing a ladder, always main-
tain three points of contact. Always get down from the ladder
to move it.
5 Ladders should be placed on firm level ground. Nor should
the ladder be placed in front of a door that is unlocked or not
guarded or blocked. A good practice in using a ladder is to
have a second individual hold the ladder as you climb and to
ensure it has proper footing as you climb.
Here s a summary of safety tips.
1 Don't climb ladders if you are feeling dizzy, tired or are prone
to losing balance.
2 Do not climb ladders during stormy weather that have high
winds.
3 Always wear shoes with good slip resistant soles. Shoes that
have leather soles are not a good choice for use with a ladder.
4 Always inspect the ladder before use. If a ladder is damaged,
missing parts or feels wobbly or rickety, it should not be used.
5 Use the correct ladder for the job. Do not use a ladder that
will not hold your weight. The ladder's weight rating should
be more than what you weigh.
6 The ladders length should be sufficient to reach the job. You
should never stand on the top rung of the ladder to accom-
plish a task.
7 Always place a ladder on firm, smooth level ground and
avoid slippery surfaces.
8 Only one person on the ladder at a time.
9 The ladder should never be placed in front of a door that is
unlocked or not guarded or blocked.
10 Always maintain three points of contact on the ladder which
means one hand and two feet or two hands and one foot al-
ways in contact with the ladder.
11 Use towlines to convey materials so that the climber can uti-
lize both hands while climbing. Never carry materials while
climbing.
12 Avoid sudden moves while climbing. Climb slowly. Keep
your belt buckle (stomach) between the ladder side rails while
climbing and performing work. Never overreach or lean to
the side on the ladder.
13 ALWAYS BE AWARE OF YOUR POSITION ON THE
LADDER BEFORE MOVING.
14 ALWAYS LOOK DOWN TO SEE WHERE YOU ARE IN
RELATION TO THE GROUND BEFORE MOVING UP
OR DOWN ON THE LADDER. LOST CONCENTA-
TION WHILE ON A LADDER WILL LEAD TO AN AC-
CIDENT. IT ONLY TAKES A BREAK IN CONCENTRA-
TION FOR AN ACCIDENT TO HAPPEN.