Ladders are a simple device for safe climbing, and that may be their biggest fault. Workers using them tend to mistake simplicity for harmlessness, forgetting precautions of rules and proper use. That kind of mistake causes thousands of accidents and disabling injuries every year. Most accidents with straight ladders are caused by the ladder skidding or slipping. This is easy enough to prevent. Equip each ladder with a non- slip base, like safety feet, for example, or block the base of the ladder.
     Lashing the ladder is another precaution against its moving or slipping, and to make sure the lashing is there when needed, permanently attach a short length of rope to a side rail. Also, make sure the ladder is placed at a safe angle so the distance from the wall to the base of the ladder is about one-fourth the distance from the base to the ladders top support.
     When you are setting up a ladder, make sure the footing is level and that the ladder rests on a firm platform. Lean the ladder against something solid and unmovable, Not against a window sash or a glass surface. Also make sure the top of the ladder exceeds three feet or more above the surface in which you intend to climb.
   If all of these precautions are followed, and if the ladder is in good condition and is the right one for the job, then a simple device for climbing is a safe one too.