Ladder falls on renovation jobs: setting up and climbing portable ladders

A ladder is the most common piece of access equipment on a renovation, and one of the most common sources of serious injury. The fixes cost nothing but a minute of setup.

Set the angle: 4 to 1

CCOHS says to place the base about 1 foot (0.3 m) out from the wall for every 4 feet (1.2 m) of height, which gives about a 75-degree pitch.

Extend above the landing

When you use a ladder to get onto a roof or platform, CCOHS recommends at least 3 feet (about 1 m) extending above the point of support, and always extending extension ladders above the eavestrough or point of contact.

Three points of contact

Keep two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand, on the ladder at all times. Carry tools in a belt or raise them with a line, not in your hands.

Stay off the top rungs

CCOHS says not to work from the top three rungs of a portable ladder. If you need to reach higher, use a longer ladder or a platform.

When a ladder is not the right tool

For long tasks, heavy materials or work at greater heights, a scaffold or elevating platform is safer. Provincial rules set when fall protection is required; check the rule in your province before the job.

Prevention Checklist

• Inspect the ladder before use.
• Set it at 4 to 1 on firm, level footing.
• Extend it at least 3 feet above the landing.
• Keep three points of contact; use a tool belt.
• Never stand on the top three rungs; switch to a platform for longer work.

References

1. Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS). Ladders - Portable, Web page, 4-to-1 rule; three-point contact; top rungs. Accessed 2026-11-01.
2. Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS). Ladders - Climbing Up and Down Safely, Web page, Climbing. Accessed 2026-11-01.
3. Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS). Ladder Safety (poster), Web page, 3 feet above point of support. Accessed 2026-11-01.

Next on ArtBuild