That’s the question posed by Mike Van Bree, a safety expert with the American Ladder Institute, adding that he has the answer. “People look at the instructions and think they already know what they ...

The Best Way to Use a Ladder 01:24 Every year thousands of people are injured in ladder-related accidents. Consumer Reports' experts give step-by-step instructions on how to safely use a ladder.

Using a ladder may seem pretty straightforward but these useful tools are actually far more dangerous than you might think.

Falls from portable ladders (step, straight, combination and extension) are one of the leading causes of workplace injuries and fatalities. Appropriate precautions can reduce the risk significantly.

Stepladders come in several sizes; the three most popular sizes used by homeowners are 4, 6, and 8 feet. Regardless of the ladder size, the following safety rules apply: • First, when opening a ...