Best practices for nuisance wildlife control operators in New York State

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Ch 4: Section two:  Risks that come with your job

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Ladder Safety

The most dangerous thing you handle isn't furry

"I was working on this bird job in an equipment shed. We were nearly done; I just needed to treat one last area. I was using a 20-foot straight ladder, but the roof was about 15 feet in that spot. Instead of getting a shorter ladder, I set the long one against the rafter and started up. Just as I reached the rafter, the ladder slipped, and down I went. End result: cracked rotator cup in my elbow, dislocated toe, multiple fractures in my feet, large gash across my knee."

—Wayne Langman, NWCO in Indiana

Like contractors, NWCOs spend a lot of time on ladders and roofs, but unlike roofers, NWCOs also contend with another hazard: the unpredictable actions of wild animals. Carrying a trap containing a scared or aggressive animal down a ladder is a bit more exciting than toting a bucket of nails. So NWCOs have a few more items to add to their list of safety issues.

Safety precautions can be a pain; they slow you down and inhibit your mobility. It's hard to justify taking the time during the busy season, especially if you just need to quickly check a trap and you have so many other jobs waiting. Very few people die from diseases they caught from wildlife, but accidents associated with ladders are fairly frequent and often serious. In 1993, for example, falls accounted for 11% of the deaths from all job-related injuries in upstate New York (8% in New York City). When you include accidents at home, falls were the fourth leading cause of death from injury, and the number one cause of hospitalizations. [These statistics, from the New York State Department of Health, refer to all occupations, not just nuisance wildlife control].

Accidents usually happen when someone is hurried or distracted and not concentrating on safety. Sometimes the condition of the ladder is at fault. Sometimes it's your shoes, or wet or icy conditions. Wind might overcome the stability of the ladder and tip you over.

If you run a small business, it's up to you to decide how much risk you're comfortable with; however, if you have ten or more workers, you're covered by OSHA regulations. Even if your business is exempt, you may still want to check out their website. Here's a basic summary of the OSHA recommendations for the safe use of ladders.

This NWCO wears a safety harness attached to a retractable lanyard system that would arrest a fall. This protection still provides enough mobility to install the bird netting on the bridge.

Setting up the job:

• First, make sure that the ladder is the right design and strength for the job.
   
• If using fall protection equipment, such as life lines, lanyards, and harnesses, seek proper training in the use and selection of those materials.
   
• Make sure you're using a climbing rope that is rated for people.
   
• Follow the manufacturer's instructors for placing the ladder at a safe angle. There should be no more than a 4:1 ratio between the height to the roof's edge and the distance from the eave. In this illustration, the roof edge is 20 feet up, which means that the base of the ladder needs to be 5 feet out from the eave to achieve the 4:1 ratio (not drawn to scale).
   
• The top of the ladder should extend 3 feet above the roof.
   
• Secure ladders properly to a strong structure, especially if you are going to step off the ladder onto the roof, or when you'll be working on the ladder for any length of time. Keep the bottom of the ladder from slipping using braces or an anchor board. Tie the "fly" section (the moveable part) and base together at their overlap. Secure the top of the ladder using ladder rungs or "ropes" (the types of ropes that are rated for this use are more properly called "life lines" and "lanyards").
   
• The ladder must be as firm as possible. The base must be flat, level, and secure. Use equipment to stabilize the base if the ladder's on uneven ground. If you can't secure the base, choose another spot for your ladder.
   
• Inspect equipment frequently and don't use damaged ladders. Replace lanyards and harness after a fall.
   
• Pad ropes so they don't chafe against the roof's edge.
   
• If using an aluminum ladder, watch out for electrical services to avoid electrocution.

Climbing and dismounting:

• The likelihood of falling is not directly related to your weight or size.
   
• Climb slowly and surely and always face the ladder. Avoid the temptation to lean off the side of the ladder because that may make you lose your balance.
   
• Keep three parts of your body in contact with the ladder (either both hands and a foot, or both feet and one hand).
   
• Don't carry heavy or bulky items as you climb. Pull them up on a towline, attach them to your tool belt, or have them handed up to you.
   
• Wear shoes with strong soles, and keep them clean for maximum traction.
   
• Dismount by stepping sideways onto the roof, don't step over the ladder.

Tips from NWCOs and safety experts:

• If you don't feel safe, don't do it. You can always rent a bucket lift. The rental costs can even make sense financially, because you could lose a lot more money if you had an accident that keeps you away from work for a long time.
   
• Watch out during the spring and fall, when temperatures fluctuate a lot. That can lead to condensation on the roof and very slippery conditions.
   
• Carry a cell phone with you, especially if you're working solo. That way, if you have an accident and need help, you can call someone.
   
• To check whether or not there's an animal in a trap without climbing onto the roof, try this simple device. Fasten a car's side-view mirror onto a long pole. Raise the pole to see the trap from the ground.
   
• For more details, see the OSHA website.  Another great source of advice is the building industry. Roofers have a lot of relevant experience, and like you, they're up there trying to get their work done.

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