There was an
article where two men fell afoul of nail guns whilst up a ladder, one
accidentally firing a nail into his chest and the other firing two into his
head after he fell from a ladder holding the power tool.  It doesn’t take much to work out that a nail
gun is intrinsically more dangerous than a ladder, but the combination of the
two can be a recipe for disaster.  Whilst
these are extreme examples, it highlights the dangers. These accidents aren’t
going to stop people using power tools up a ladder – it’s a part of
construction and virtually unavoidable, but there are precautions we can take
when using tools, especially power tools, up a ladder.

Firstly the
type of tool you use plays a huge role in how safe it is to use.  Tools with safety features (like an automatic
cut off) may cost a little more than the budget version but it’s worth paying
the extra price for safety.  If you can’t
afford the more expensive version then consider hiring it for the time you need
it.  Tool rental will be cheaper than
purchasing it and also gives you a wider choice of tools.  Some people bypass or remove safety features
to make the tools work faster; this is taboo and should never be done as that
safety feature might be exactly what saves your life, or makes the difference
between a fall and a really bad accident. 

Heavy tools
can unbalance the ladder and lead to it slipping to the side, so always
consider the weight of the tool you are using and whether it’s safe to use it
at height on the ladder, or whether you should find a different access
method.  Heavier tools will also cause
you to fatigue more quickly, meaning you get less done each day. So if there’s
a lighter alternative go for it.  Heavy
tools are also more likely to be dropped accidentally, which poses a risk to
you, when you are up the ladder (especially if you try to catch it) and the
people on the ground.

Carrying
tools up a ladder should be done very carefully, as you need to have both hands
free to ascend the ladder safely.  A tool
belt is a good piece of equipment to have, but using a rope to pull items up is
also a viable option, and more suitable for larger bits of kit or anything
sharp which might cause an injury to the user if they fall.  A bucket tied to a rope which then loops over
a ladder rung is a simple yet effective way of transporting tools from the
ground to the person on the ladder and which doesn’t interfere with them
climbing up or down.  Again, attention
should be paid to transporting heavy items this way so as not to unbalance the
ladder, but it’s much safer than trying to carry anything up manually.

A tool tray
accessory is almost indispensable for regular ladder users, as it allows you to
rest your tools safely and securely when you’re not actively using them.  Paint trays are also available for holding
paint pots (or decanted paint) for decorating jobs, and these accessories can
make your work much more efficient and quicker as you don’t have to keep going
up and down the ladder for different items.

We’re sure
you’ll be extra careful when using nail guns up a ladder but remember that all
tools can pose a risk when used up a ladder; so stay safe and follow our tips
for using tools up a ladder.