Are You Dressed Right For Working At Height?

There are a lot of factors that need to be considered to stay safe when working at height up ladders, stepladders and scaffolds. Unfortunately, appropriate dress is sometimes overlooked, even by the professionals! In this blog, we’ll cover some of the basics of dressing appropriately when working at height, to guarantee the safety of both you and those working below you.

Common Dress Sense

No matter if you’re doing a few jobs in the backyard with one of our garden ladders, or you’re performing a demanding task with one of our roof ladders, many of the same rules apply! For example, even if you’re not a professional tradesman, it’s always a good idea to remove bracelets and similar jewellery before climbing a ladder. The best case scenario is that you risk losing it, while at greater heights it can pose a serious danger to those on the ground. On a similar note, pockets should be closed with fasteners if possible, or emptied if not. An all-in-one is favoured by professionals as it entirely encloses loose clothing, preventing it from getting torn or snagged (which may even overbalance you atop the ladder).

If you’re using a harness or fall restraint system, you’ll need to make sure that what you’re wearing underneath is properly compatible with it, and doesn’t restrict your movement. In fact, this is a great rule to follow in general, even if you’re not using PPE – make sure what you’re wearing is firstly comfortable, and secondly doesn’t stop you moving completely freely. You never know – you may need to react suddenly to a situation, and you don’t want your clothing to get in the way when you do!

Keep An Eye On The Skies

The weather is another vital consideration to think about when you’re dressing for Work at Height. Wet and windy conditions will need you to take extra care – for example, if you’re wearing a helmet you might want to consider putting a hood over it, if only for your own warmth and comfort. Eye protection and goggles can protect your vision from flying sand and grit in high winds, and protective gloves can prevent your hands from getting numb, which can lead to potentially serious mistakes. Remember, your gloves shouldn’t compromise any dexterity! On the other hand, even pleasant sunny conditions can impair your vision through refraction and direct sunlight, so make sure to protect your vision in these conditions through appropriately shaded eyewear, too.

Meanwhile, to return our focus to inclement weather, in windy and rainy conditions your footwear will need to have a well-defined instep and a patterned sole to prevent slipping. We’d also recommend strengthened soles if you’re planning on standing on the ladder for a relatively long amount of time.

Of course, here at Browns Ladders, we make sure that everything we sell makes life easier for you too! Our Lyte Aluminium Double Roof Ladder, for example, makes use of industrial non-slip rungs and box section tiles to further reduce the chances of an accident, in addition to its heavy-duty ridge hook. You can click the link to explore what it can offer you in greater detail, or alternatively browse our full range of extension ladders.

Don’t forget – if you need any help or advice we’re always on hand! Just give us a call on 01282 615517, and we’ll see what we can do to help.

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