Orchard Ladder Safety Tips

Do we really need to know how to climb a ladder? When you're using one that's perhaps 12 foot tall and on three legs - YES!

At the first gleaning meeting  Seth Rolland  gave us a run down on good orchard ladder use and when/how not to use it. Thank you Kathy Darrow  and Suzanne Wilson  for this tip summary.

Watch this fun video for visuals: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zTUJ9_29b8

*Wear good shoes with closed toes

*Wear comfortable clothing so you can have freedom of movement

*Choose the right height ladder for the tree you are picking. 

*Check your ladders before picking:

        Inspect for cracks, dents, loose bolts, corrosion, mud and other slip hazards.

        Make sure tongue (hinged pole) is firmly attached

        Mark ladders that need repair, or repair it before you use it.

*Place ladder so that when toes are even with bottom of ladder, outstretched arms reach the siderails; if fingers don’t reach side rails or arms are bent, the ladder needs to be adjusted.

*Make sure the bottom of ladder is firmly in place by hopping on the bottom rung a few times. 

*Only use the ladder on soil, never on pavement or indoors.

*Maintain 3 points of contact with the ladder at all times.

*Keep hands on side rails, not rungs.

*Keep center of your feet on the rungs (not tippy toes or heels).

*Face the ladder (not sideways or backwards).

*Never step on the top rung. 

*Belt buckle rule: Don’t reach out too far from the ladder; keep the center of your belt between rungs of the ladder. If you have to reach further, move the ladder. 

*Avoid stepping or leaning on tree branches to reach fruit. 

*Be mindful of people, dogs and vehicles moving around the ladder. 

Click here for more info on thePT Gleaners.