How to use a telescopic ladder safely

Telescopic ladders are perfectly safe to use as long as you follow the safety guidelines that apply to all leaning ladders. Check out our How to Climb a Ladder Safely guide for advice.

It is also crucial that you work on a level surface, i.e. a clean and flat floor. Never erect your telescopic ladder on an uneven floor as this could cause it to tip over. You should also never stand your ladder on something else to achieve additional height.

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Ladders don't have 'expiration dates' as such, but it is true that a ladder can only be used for so long before it becomes unreliable and unsafe. Climbing a rickety old ladder that's no longer fit for purpose may result in a nasty fall.

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3-storey houses aren’t as common as 2-storey or even single-storey houses in the UK, but they do exist.

On average, a 3-storey house is typically between 9 and 10 metres tall. The exact height will of course vary from one property to the next.

As you’d imagine, the additional height can make it difficult to access the roof, gutters and upper windows of a 3-storey home. Fortunately, there are ladders out there that enable you to reach them. To make sure you do so safely, here’s some handy guidance.

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When using a leaning ladder for a quick job, it might be tempting to ask someone to quickly hold the ladder for you to make it more stable. This is called ‘footing’ a ladder.

While this may seem like a good idea in principle, it can actually be very dangerous. That’s because if the person using the ladder were to drop something or fall, the person below could suffer serious injury.

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According to the Health and Safety Executive, step ladders “should not be used to access another level, unless they have been specifically designed for this.”

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