A ladder is only a ladder, you might think. You only have to put one foot on the rail, hoist yourself up, put the other foot on the upper rail, and do the same until you reach the top. Very easy, right?
However, you should know that improper use of the ladders as well as the steps in the restaurant and the kitchen can lead to accidents that you could have avoided had you been careful enough. Improper use of ladders and steps can also endanger other people who are passing by you. For this reason, it is important that you know how to use these access equipments properly.
Risks Involved in Using Access Equipments
There are a number of risks associated with using access equipments. For one, you can easily fall off the ladder. A body part like your arm or foot or a piece of your clothing could also easily get caught on the ladder, causing you to lose your balance and fall over. You could also injure passersby by your carelessness; say for example dropping a bucket onto someone’s feet.
If you erected the ladder the wrong way or placed it on an uneven surface, you could also fall, injuring yourself and other people. Lastly, using damaged ladders and steps could easily cause an accident.
Because restaurants would want to be seen as an accident-free establishment, safety guidelines on using access equipments should be taught to all, especially the Stewarding Department.
Avoiding Accidents
Accidents like this could easily be avoided if you take precautionary measures in using access equipments:
- Always make sure that the ladder or the step is in good working condition. If it seems faulty, report it as soon as possible to the proper personnel to have it checked and repaired.
- If you are going to carry a heavy ladder, have someone help you. That way, you avoid injuring your back and, at the same time, avoid accidentally hitting people with the ladder.
- When erecting the ladder, always make sure that the floor is even and that you have erected the equipment properly. If possible, have someone hold the ladder and secure it in place when you are going up the access equipment.
- When climbing the ladder, always make sure that your feet are properly and firmly planted on the steps before hoisting yourself up. Make use of the rail to lift yourself and to avoid losing your balance.
- Never carry too many things at once when you are climbing up a ladder. This way, the unnecessary risk of falling objects is avoided, and injuring yourself is also prevented.
These are just some of the tips in using ladders and steps. The most important thing is that you should always have your safety as well as the safety of other people on your mind when you are using access equipments. Accidents from carelessness are avoidable if you have the presence of mind to check the access equipment before using it.
