Every industry has been negatively affected this year and while construction work was one of the first things to be permitted after lockdown; it has been a struggle to catch up with the workload and deal with clients who may have postponed their work due to money problems.  This means that builders and other related trades may be working much harder this autumn and winter to complete jobs and keep the cash flowing, so naturally there may be occasions when ladder use is less safe than it could be.

Using ladders on wet ground, and in the cold or rain, is more dangerous than when the weather conditions are optimal.  While we would never recommend using ladders in dangerous conditions, we understand that in some circumstances a ladder may be your only option.  Ideally, you would wait until a better day, or use a scaffold tower, which is more stable, to carry out the task.  When you're forced to use a ladder on wet or slippery ground, it is vital that you take precautions to secure the ladder and prevent accidents caused by ladder slip.

We have several ladder stoppers which grip the ground well and provide an immoveable base to keep the feet of the ladder where you put them.  If you don't have a ladder stopper then now is the time to buy one.  We also have add-ons which attach to the base of a ladder to provide stability against sideways ladder slips.  These stabilisers are fantastic for use in wet weather, and they also provide that extra security all year round too.  You can rig up a stabilising system with pegs and rope in a pinch, but this comes with the added trip hazard of ropes around the bottom of the ladder which could lead to more accidents on a busy site.

A construction safety kit with built in fall arrest system is recommended for tradespeople, and in slippery conditions this could save your life – at the very least it will prevent you falling and injuring yourself if the ladder you are working on slips away.  It is also recommended that you secure the top of your ladder to the building to provide extra stability.  If you have secured the top and bottom of your ladder and you're using a fall arrest system you are as safe as it is possible to be.

If you are working on overcast and dull days, then you should ensure that there is adequate lighting around the ladder and around the area you are working in.  Poor light can make it hard to see the rungs and you may be tempted to rush a job to get it done before dark; so do make sure you're working at the lightest time of day and that you have good electrical lighting to provide that all important illumination if you're working during dusk.

Proper footwear and gloves can make using a wet ladder much safer too.  Soles that grip help maintain friction with the rungs, while work gloves with a rubberised palm provides grip for your hands on the stiles.  Wet and cold hands are very prone to slipping on metal, so it's important that you keep your hands warm and dry when using ladders.  You could keep an old towel in your work van to dry off your ladder before using it, but on very wet days you'll be fighting a losing battle to keep it dry all day.

The best ladder accessory we can recommend for working in wet weather is another person to help out.  Another pair of hands can stabilise the ladder, keep an eye out for hazards on the ground and also get help if you should slip and fall from the ladder.