Key points
- A leaning ladder is set so the horizontal distance from its foot to the top support is about one quarter of its working length (the 1:4 rule).
- Do not stand on the top or top step of a stepladder.
- Near exposed live electrical equipment, use a ladder with non-conductive side rails (fibreglass), not aluminium.
- Never mix bleach with ammonia, acids or any other cleaner: it releases toxic gases.
The Binaaline "Do it yourself" section is for small jobs a homeowner can do safely. Lesson one: safety before speed. The rules below come from published workplace safety regulations; they were written for job sites, but the same logic applies at home.
1) Ladders: the biggest source of home injuries
From the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements for ladders1:
- Angle of a leaning ladder: the horizontal distance from the foot of the ladder to its top support is about one quarter of the working length. Example: a 4 m ladder has its foot about 1 m from the wall.
- Climbing onto a roof or platform: the side rails must extend about 1 m (3 ft) above the landing surface so you have something to hold when stepping off.
- Stepladders: the top, or the top step, must not be used as a step.
- Near electricity: if the ladder or the user could contact exposed energised electrical equipment, the ladder must have non-conductive side rails.
2) Noise and hearing protection
OSHA requires general-industry employers to run a hearing conservation programme when average noise exposure reaches 85 dBA over 8 hours, and the permissible limit is 90 dBA for an 8-hour day2. Angle grinders, rotary hammers and saws are loud; wear earplugs or earmuffs when using them for long periods.
3) Cleaners and chemicals: never mix
The Washington State Department of Health warns against mixing bleach3:
| Mixture | What it produces |
|---|---|
| Bleach + ammonia | Toxic chloramine gases: coughing, nausea, shortness of breath, chest pain. |
| Bleach + acids (e.g. some bathroom cleaners and descalers) | Chlorine gas: irritation, breathing difficulty, and possibly pneumonia. |
4) Electricity
- Switch off the circuit breaker before any work near a switch, socket or light fitting, and confirm it is dead with a tester.
- Make sure the circuit is protected by a residual current device (RCD). See breakers and RCDs.
- Work inside the consumer unit and new wiring is not for amateurs. See when to call a professional.
5) Personal protective equipment: a basic list
- Safety glasses when drilling, cutting, breaking or working overhead.
- Suitable gloves: cotton against cuts, nitrile for chemicals and cement.
- A dust mask when sanding and cutting tiles or gypsum board.
- Ear protection with loud tools.
- Closed shoes with non-slip soles.
- Good ventilation with paints, adhesives and solvents.
Cement, cementitious adhesive and grout are alkaline and may irritate skin; wear gloves and rinse skin with water after contact.
Sources
The number next to a statement points to its source in this list. Sources back the general information; anything marked “practical advice” is editorial experience, not a quoted source. Anything that affects safety, structural design or electrical installations needs a licensed professional, and in Saudi Arabia the binding reference is the Saudi Building Code.
- 129 CFR 1926.1053 — Ladders — U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
- 2Occupational Noise Exposure — 29 CFR 1910.95 — U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
- 3Dangers of Mixing Bleach with Cleaners — Washington State Department of Health