Which action is essential to ensure safe ladder operation on a slippery surface?

Which action is essential to ensure safe ladder operation on a slippery surface?

• A. Maintain three points of contact and use proper footing.
• B. Discard ladders that show any wear.
• C. Ignore wind conditions and lean ladders aggressively.
• D. Sprint to position ladders quickly.

Answer: (B)

On a slippery surface, stability comes from keeping two hands and one foot (or two feet and one hand) in contact with the ladder at all times and ensuring the base is secure. Maintaining three points of contact provides a continuous, stable connection to the ladder so a sudden slip doesn’t throw you off balance. Proper footing means the ladder sits on dry, firm ground and is arranged so the feet won’t slide; use stabilizers or non-slip pads if needed and set the ladder at the correct angle. While inspecting ladders for wear is good general safety practice, it doesn’t specifically address the slip risk, and actions like ignoring wind, leaning aggressively, or sprinting would increase the chance of a fall.

On a slippery surface, stability comes from keeping two hands and one foot (or two feet and one hand) in contact with the ladder at all times and ensuring the base is secure. Maintaining three points of contact provides a continuous, stable connection to the ladder so a sudden slip doesn’t throw you off balance. Proper footing means the ladder sits on dry, firm ground and is arranged so the feet won’t slide; use stabilizers or non-slip pads if needed and set the ladder at the correct angle. While inspecting ladders for wear is good general safety practice, it doesn’t specifically address the slip risk, and actions like ignoring wind, leaning aggressively, or sprinting would increase the chance of a fall.