What is the 1 to 4 Rule for Ladder Safety
by Richard O'Connor
Jun 18, 2020 | *4 minutes to readKnowing how to position a ladder properly before you climb up it is one of those life hacks, like dealing with a grizzly bear or a poisonous snake, that most people have an idea about – but this one’s a lot more useful to us in the UK and undoubtedly saves many lives every year.
How do you set up a ladder?
It’s all about the angle of the ladder against the wall. The magic number recommended by the HSE1 is 75 degrees so that the base of the ladder is set away from the wall at one-quarter of the working length of the ladder. Put another way: for every four metres of height you need to climb, place the base of the ladder one metre away from the wall the ladder is leaning against.
The rule is the same whether you’re setting up a short or a long ladder.
If the base of the ladder is too far from the wall and the angle is too small, the base of the ladder can slide out. If the ladder base is too close to the wall, there’s a risk that the ladder could tip over backwards.
Get it right, and you have a stable ladder that’s safe to climb and work from. Otherwise, there could be a nasty fall – in fact, ladders being incorrectly positioned is the most common cause of ladder accidents.
How do I check the ladder is at the right angle?
The best way to ensure you’ve got the correct 750 angle is to use a measuring tape - you just can’t tell by looking at it or going on past experience. Once you know the working height of the ladder (remembering that you won’t be working off the top three rungs), divide that by four to get the correct distance between the ladder feet and the wall. So, if your working ladder height measures six metres, divide that by four to get 1.5 metres; now, put the ladder base 1.5 metres away from the wall.
Alternatively, stand with your feet touching the ladder's base and hold one arm forward. If the ladder is at the correct angle, you should be able to touch the ladder's rungs at shoulder height.
What happens in real life when people set up ladders?
It’s a good question. We don’t have a lot of evidence, but there was one fascinating study in 2016 which may give us a clue2. Researchers watched cable installers in the United States set up their ladders during the working day and found they were setting up their ladders based on what looked right to them. But only 1% were actually placing their ladders correctly – most were favouring a much smaller angle of around 670.
Even that small difference almost doubles the friction needed to hold the ladder in place – the friction jumps by another seven per cent or so if the worker climbs the ladder at speed. So even little things can introduce real hazards.
Which Ladders does the 1 to 4 rule apply to?
The 1 to 4 rule applies to any ladder that leans against a wall, including a leaning ladder, an extension ladder and a telescopic ladder. At First Mats, we have an extensive collection of ladders and stepladders for commercial and domestic use, including several where this rule applies.
Can I adjust the angle to get to something that’s out of reach?
The short answer is no. Tempting as it might be to change the angle to allow you to reach a higher or lower spot, the ladder should reach the job you’re working on easily without you needing to adjust the ladder.
Is there anything else I should know?
If you follow the 1 to 4 rule, you’ll set up a ladder against a wall safely. And if you see a family member or neighbour attempting something unsafe while putting up Christmas decorations or unblocking the gutter, have a quiet word – you could be doing them a great favour.
See our full range of Industrial Ladders for more heavy-duty access products.
1 Safe use of ladders and stepladders INDG455. HSE
2 Straight ladder inclined angle in a field environment: the relationship among actual angle, method of set-up and knowledge. Ergonomics Journal, 2016
Explore More Topics
How to Fit a Recessed Door Mat
Recessed door mats keep your entryway tidy and safe by fitting flush with your floor. If you have an existing matwell or frame, installing coir...
Why Branded Floor Mats Are a Smart Business Investment
Have you ever considered the importance of your entrance area to your overall business image? Are you making the most of every opportunity to showcase your brand?...
5 Benefits of Using Cable Protectors
Cable protectors are a great way to ensure your cables stay safe and in place. They can be used for many everyday purposes, such as preventing tripping hazards, covering unsightly...
Boost Your Home’s Curb Appeal with the Right Doormat
Have you ever walked up to a house and immediately felt like this is a house you want to own, even before even stepping inside? That first impression is...
The Versatility of Floor Mats: More Than Just the Front Door
When most people think of floor mats, the front door is the first place that comes to mind. While it’s true that entrance mats are essential...
Ergonomic Workstations: Things You Need to Know When Setting One Up
Creating an ergonomic workstation is essential for maintaining employee well-being, increasing productivity, and improving staff retention. Poorly designed workstations can lead to discomfort, musculoskeletal issues, and decreased efficiency. This guide...
How to Protect Your Hardwood Floors Using Entrance Mats
Hardwood floors add warmth and elegance to any home, but keeping them looking pristine requires careful maintenance. One of the biggest threats to hardwood flooring is the dirt and grime...
The Different Textures of Entrance Matting and Their Benefits
Entrance mats may seem like a simple addition to your home or business, but not all mats are the same. A mat's texture is crucial in how well it...
What Vegans Need to Know About Door Mats
This article has been written by our Director, Richard O’Connor, who has been exploring how well door mats can align with vegan values. As a vegetarian making more vegan choices...
6 Tips for using a Standing Desk Correctly
As people are becoming more aware of their fitness levels and ways in which they can stay healthy, standing desks have increased in popularity because those who have previously had...
5 Creative Ways to Use Your Logo on Products to Boost Brand Awareness
Businesses today compete for attention across countless platforms. Customers have more choices than ever, so brand loyalty is becoming harder to secure. In this landscape, a brand’s image needs to...
The Different Surfaces of Anti-Fatigue Matting Explained
Understanding the different surface textures of anti-fatigue matting is essential for selecting the right one for your workspace. Anti-fatigue mats come in various textures, each designed to provide specific benefits...
Industrial Matting Fact Sheet
Introduction Industrial matting plays a crucial role in maintaining safety, comfort, and efficiency in various work environments. This fact sheet provides essential information about the different types of industrial mats,...
How to keep warm at work: Cost-effective ways to beat the bills
Are you concerned about your business running costs now that energy prices have gone through the roof? Electricity prices have increased 74% for large industrial units in the past...
The Cost of Slips, Trips, and Falls to British Industry
The Cost of Slips, Trips, and Falls to British Industry Are slips, trips, and falls costing your business dearly? Is your workforce underperforming? Are you missing expertise on the floor...
4-Day Work Week in the UK - Key Facts & Statistics
The world of work has seen a lot of change since the beginning of the 2020s, and — in turn — many companies have placed employee well-being at the top...
From Nut to Mat - How Coir Matting is Made
Door mats might not stand out as being the most obvious product to boast an interesting manufacturing history, but the truth of the matter is that coir...
A Quick Guide to Storing Small Chemical Products Safely
Introduction This blog post provides a simplified guide to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) document titled 'Storing Chemical SR24 Products (small scale)'....
Executive Summary of HSE Work-Related MSDs Statistics
Executive Summary: Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Statistics in Great Britain This article provides a comprehensive summary of the key findings from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) report on work-related musculoskeletal...
Executive Summary of HSE Work-Related Fatal Injuries Statistics
Executive Summary of HSE Work-Related Fatal Injuries Statistics This article is compiled by First Mats and provides an executive summary of the
The Costs to Britain of Workplace Accidents, Injuries and Ill-Health: HSE Report Summary
An Executive Summary of the HSE Report: Costs to Britain of Workplace Fatalities and Self-reported Injuries and Ill Health Published in November 2023, this report presents the latest estimates of...
Summary of HSE Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders Statistics 2022
Executive Summary of HSE Report 2022: Key Findings on Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders This blog post provides a summary of the key findings from the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) report...
The Environmental Impact of Generator Spills and How to Mitigate Them
Generators, while vital in modern life for a variety of applications, come with certain environmental risks. When not managed properly, spills from these machines can have devastating effects on our...
How to Prevent and Clean Oil Spills in the Workplace: A Comprehensive Guide
Workplace oil spills are more than just an inconvenient mess; they present serious risks to employee safety and the environment. Several pieces of legislation in the UK, such as the...
AdBlue: Its Risks to Health and the Environment
In an era where environmental responsibility and sustainable practices take centre stage, understanding the various components of these efforts is paramount. One such component, extensively used in the automotive industry,...
The Best Colour Door Mats for People With Dementia
Dementia is a syndrome associated with an ongoing decline of brain functioning, affecting memory, thinking speed, language, understanding, judgement, mood, and movement. It impacts more than 850,000 people in the...
Tips for Moving Plasterboard Safely and Efficiently
Plasterboard, also known as drywall, is a common material used in construction and renovation projects. While it's a versatile and useful material, moving plasterboard can be challenging due to its...
Understanding UDL: Uniformally Distributed Load
What Does UDL Mean? UDL, or Uniformally Distributed Load, is a term used in the field of manual handling equipment to describe the weight capacity of a particular piece of...
Bund Integrity Testing - What You Need to Know
As a responsible business owner, protecting your assets should be one of your top priorities. One approach to securing your assets is using portable bunding solutions, such as
The Complete Guide to Foam Impact Protectors: Enhancing Workplace Safety
Impact Protection Foam is a vital component in industrial environments, serving as a crucial safeguard against injuries caused by impacts with hard surfaces. Designed with a...
Rising Stress Levels in the UK and the Impact on Workers - Facts and Statistics
A recent study conducted by First Mats has highlighted the growing issue of stress among the UK population. Our survey of over 1,000 UK adults found that more...
Mats for Wudu / Ablution Areas in Mosques
Here at First Mats, we have an extensive selection of wet room matting ideal for Wudu/ Ablution areas in Mosques and other spiritual sites. The outstanding water drainage, anti-slip...
The Most Unsafe Places to Work in Britain (2023)
The Health and Safety Executive releases updated figures on workplace injuries and fatalities annually, and its latest report has...
Workplace Safety Facts and Statistics
Workplace-related injury is shockingly high in the UK. And statistics from the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) show that thousands of UK workers are injured or killed on the...
A Simple Guide to ISO 14001 Certification
ISO 14001 certification is a globally recognised standard for implementing an effective environmental management system. It is designed to help organisations reduce their environmental impact, manage resources more efficiently, and...
How to Remove The Smell from Rubber Mats
Rubber mats are versatile and extremely useful in various applications, from gyms to warehouses to garage floors. They are naturally durable, flexible and have a long lifespan. However, amongst all...
Flyball - The Everything Guide
Are you looking for a new activity to enjoy with your dog? Perhaps you want to help socialise your pup while providing excellent exercise that stimulates their brain, agility, and...
How to Charge Your Electric Car if You Don’t Have a Driveway
Are you considering buying an electric car, van, or moped? If you have your own driveway, it’s easy to charge your EV — but what happens if you don’t? How...
The Importance of Doormats & How They Can Save You Money
Most of us are considering how we can save money around the home right now. But for business owners, cost-cutting has become essential to sustaining a long-term business. And while...
How to Deal with Wet Floors in Warehouses
Did you know that slips and falls are the most significant cause of non-fatal injuries in UK workplaces? And what’s most frustrating is that most of...
Fire Safety Facts and Statistics UK
Fire safety is one of the cornerstones of health and safety – fires are among the most devastating accidents that can happen in the home or the workplace, both in...
The Best Anti-Fatigue Mats by Job Role
Anti-fatigue mats are one of the best, most cost-effective ways of improving health and safety at your premises and boosting employee productivity and engagement. There are many different available, so...
Rubber Sheet Types and Applications
Rubber sheets are used in a broad spectrum of different industries, for an equally broad range of reasons. From gaskets and seals to shock absorption and anti-vibration padding, rubber is...
The Best Matting for Kennel Flooring
The flooring you choose for your kennel will have a big impact on how much time you have to spend on cleaning and maintenance, how often you have to replace...
Manual Handling Equipment Types
Manual handling injuries are one of the most common types of injury in the United Kingdom workplace, accounting for thousands of incidents every single year. As well as the legal (and...
What does Shore A Hardness Mean?
Shore hardness scales are the way in which different materials are measured for their hardness – it allows people to accurately compare the relative hardness of different items, much as...
Guide to COSHH Symbols
Working in an industry that handles chemicals or hazardous substances means that you have most likely come across the term COSHH, as it is most commonly seen on the labels...
Complete Guide to Sack Trucks
Sack trucks have always been invaluable both in the workplace and in everyday life. They can come in extremely useful when moving large loads in warehouses and delivering parcels, as...
Spill Control: The Complete Guide
Spill control is, or should be, a strong focus of any industrial site’s health, safety, and environmental policies. Whether you’re new to the world of spill control or need updating on...
Hazardous Storage Guide
Wherever chemicals are stored, there is a risk of fire, chemical reactions, and pressure build-up. For this reason, it is imperative to store chemicals and other hazardous liquids with great...
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any questions, we’re here to help
How long does delivery take?
Each product comes with a specified lead time for delivery. We'll keep you informed if there are any delays in meeting this timeline.
Typically, once you’ve finalised your order and approved the proof, it will take 4-5 business days to make and deliver your finished mat.
If my order is damaged, can I return or exchange it?
Got a problem with your order? If something's not right or you're not thrilled with the quality, just let us know within 14 days of getting it. Drop us a line, and we'll tell you what to do next—usually, it starts with you sending us a photo of the issue. Once we check that out, we'll sort you out with a refund or a new item, no fuss.
Can I get my mat delivered more quickly?
Need your item in a hurry? Just Contact us to explore the faster delivery options we might have for you!
If my custom mat is damaged, can I return or exchange it?
Got a problem with your order? If something's not right or you're not thrilled with the quality, just let us know within 14 days of getting it. Drop us a line, and we'll tell you what to do next—usually, it starts with you sending us a photo of the issue. Once we check that out, we'll sort you out with a refund or a new item, no fuss.