What is the 4 to 1 Rule When Using a Ladder?

The other day I had to get up on the roof of my house to retrieve a whiffle ball that was hit up there during one of our many side yard whiffle ball games. While getting my ladder out of the shed and placing it against the edge of the house, I contemplated what is the best distance from the house to place the base of the ladder to ensure the best stability and help ensure that I was safe from falling while going up and down the ladder.

So, what is the 4 to 1 rule when using a ladder? For every four (4) feet of height you have to climb, move the base one (1) foot away from the wall that the ladder is resting against.

While this tip applies specifically to extension ladders, it is great for those of us who only use a ladder a few times a year for things like Christmas decorations, gutter maintenance and retrieving the occasional ball that ends up on the roof.

Why the 4 to 1 rule?

The 4 to 1 rule prevents a ladder from being placed to close or too far away from the wall in which it is placed against. By following the 4 to 1 ladder rule, the user ensures that the ladder is placed in such a way that maximizes balance and stability, helping to prevent it from tipping backwards or to the sides. As a result, accidents are less likely to occur when a ladder is placed properly against the wall and on sure ground.

Ladder Injuries

Injuries from falling from adders can be a serious or even prove fatal. According to the National Safety Council, roughly 500,000 people fall from a ladder every year in the United States and roughly 90,000 people visit the ER as a result of these falls.

Types of ladders

There are a variety of ladders on the market to choose from with each ladder type serving a specific purpose. Some of the more common types of ladders are:

1- Step Ladder

• Most common type of ladder used
• Self-supporting – “A-Frame”
• Two main types of step ladders
  1- Rungs or steps on one side of step ladder and support bars on the other side
  2- Rungs or steps on both sides of the step ladder ‘A-Frame’

2- Extension Ladder

• Straight ladder that extends upward making the ladder longer to reach higher
• Requires the ladder to be placed against another object or wall
• Can reach higher places han most step ladders
• Comprised of two parts:
  The Base – The part of the ladder that is placed on the ground
  The Fly – The part that extends upward

3- Platform Ladder

• Similar to a step ladder – the platform ladder has a platform at the top of the ladder
• Built in rail on the platform
• Allows the user to stand at the top of the ladder
• Used in construction, airports, and other businesses where workers need to work in elevated places

4- Step Stool

• Found in most home bathrooms and kitchens
• Usually only has 1-2 steps
• Used to help you get something that is just out of reach
• Easy for kids to use

5- Multi-purpose Ladder

• Defined as a ladder that can accomplish the tasks of two or more ladder’s
• Most often used at construction sites
• Highly versatile
• Designed to extend or fold

6- Telescoping Ladder

• Main feature is the ability to collapse into a variety of different lengths
• Telescopes in and out
• Highly compact
• Highly portable
• Favored by house painters
• Most often used at construction sites

7- Folding Ladder

• Shorter ladder
• Larger steps
• Folds up flat
• Portable
• Often found in the home
• Used for small projects