How to inspect an aluminum ladder before use

Perhaps you once realized, while climbing a ladder, that it was not as strong as you would like? Then you know that you need to inspect the ladder before use. Regardless of whether you need a ladder for professional use or for housework, it must be inspected. We will now tell you exactly what needs to be checked.

Ladders racks

Check the sides of your 1-section, 2-section, or 3-section ladder for dents, bends, or cracks. If the side posts are damaged or bent, the ladder may break when you climb it.

Support lugs

Support tips are located both at the bottom of the stairs and at the top. Make sure all support lugs are in place and not worn. If the support ends are missing, the ladder may become unbalanced.

Steps

The staircase should not have any missing steps so that you can climb up and down safely. Also look for cracks, bends, or signs of wear on the steps. Climbing stairs with defective treads is dangerous.

Section locking mechanism

If you have a 2-section or 3-section ladder, check that the mechanism that blocks the movement of the sections is working properly and that it opens and closes. When the locking hooks are broken, the three-section ladder may collapse randomly, resulting in a fall. Before using the extension ladder, check that the locking hooks are securely locked.

Pollution

If the aluminum ladder is dirty, this can cause an unstable position for the working person. Thoroughly clean the steps and sidewalls of greasy dirt, dried lumps of dirt, and adhering building materials. Under the dirt, you may not notice a crack or defect in the stairs.

If you find any of these staircase defects at your workplace, report it to your employer immediately. Do not climb faulty stairs; you may put your health at risk.

Take the time to inspect the stairs before work. Taking a few extra minutes to check your ladder can save you from unnecessary injury. Inspecting ladders before work is a culture of safety in the workplace. Also in everyday life, you must make sure that the stairs are in good working order before climbing them.

And the last piece of advice is to buy high-quality stairs that are certified and meet quality standards.

VIRASTAR aluminum ladders are made of reinforced profiles with an additional stiffening rib. They have quality certificates for compliance with DSTU and EN 131.

If you want to buy a ladder, call us by phone from the Contacts section.

We invite you to read our article “Step Ladders - 5 Practical Tips”.