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Footing The Ladder, Right Way Or Wrong Way?
I have a 'continuing' discussion with a few people (all of whom have only ever worked with/on ladders since joining the department) about the right way to foot (or heel) a ladder. Granted I was "taught" the fire service way -to stand beneath the ladder holding the rails- but when I'm footing the ladder I stand facingit (and when climbing I'd prefer the footer do the same).
I've done carpentry/construction for years and have never seen anyone stand beneath a ladder. The risk of being hit by dropped tools/materials is too great. Yet the fire service still teaches this method.
In my opinion, footing the ladder while facing it allows the footer to watch the FF climbing, be aware of any hazards (including dropped tools) and, under conditions or situations where the ladder might slip, allow the footer to actually stand on the bottom rung for additional ballast.
I'm not looking for a poll as to which way you do it but rather, sound arguments for one way or the other.
I've done carpentry/construction for years and have never seen anyone stand beneath a ladder. The risk of being hit by dropped tools/materials is too great. Yet the fire service still teaches this method.
In my opinion, footing the ladder while facing it allows the footer to watch the FF climbing, be aware of any hazards (including dropped tools) and, under conditions or situations where the ladder might slip, allow the footer to actually stand on the bottom rung for additional ballast.
I'm not looking for a poll as to which way you do it but rather, sound arguments for one way or the other.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Lewis R. Austin on
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I have instructed firefighters for many years. After the ladder is raised, laid in, the ladder angle is checked and halyard is secured, the firefighter heeling/footing the ladder is located under the ladder in full PPE and is instructed not to look upward. Once the firefighter climbing the ground ladder has climbed pass, this firefighter heeling/footing the ground ladder will swing around and take a position in front of the ladder heeling/footing the ladder and watching the firefighter climb the ladder. The firefighter heeling/footing the ladder can now observe the firefighter climbing the ladder and actions taking place above. So, I am not sure what training you are receiving, but safety is the number priority and I agree that the firefighter should not remain behind the ground ladder. Be Safe and Everyone Goes Home!
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Permalink Reply by Tony P on
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Lewis, my problem with "this firefighter heeling/footing the ground ladder will swing around and take a position in front of the ladder" is that for the time when the 'footer' is changing position, that ladder is no longer footed. It is free-standing. I will change from my (generally) preferred method of being under the ladder to facing the building only when the climber has stepped off - then I'll stand watching what is happening 'up stairs'.
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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on
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Norm,
The most likely thing to fall on you when footing a ladder is a tool dropped by another firefighter who is on the ladder.
You are more exposed to that hazard when facing the structure.
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Tarisa, both of the methods discussed here involve facing the ladder.
To which of these are you referring?
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The person footing the ladder should be concentrating on footing the ladder.
A Division Officer or Safety Officer should be looking for impending collapses or other hazards.
Distracted firefighters are dangerous firefighters.
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Permalink Reply by Márcio Teixeira on
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Hi there, im portuguese firefighter, and first sorry about my english, about the question we put the foot in front the ladders, and the stairs dont leave the place.
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Permalink Reply by Dale E. Morrow on
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I agree with you on facing the ladder when Footing it for another, having worked in the construction trade most of my life it was the only way to do this. The only time I know of that anything happened was when we were on a house fire in the winter, a 2 story house, 1 man up ladder another footing when the gutter which was full of ice broke loose and fell, knocking the man on the ladder off and landed on the footer. Luckily enough neither was injured badly, mostly the air knocked out of both and some soreness afterward! even though the footer saw what was happening and couldn't avoid being involved as such, he probably helped to break the others fall to some degree lessening injuries to both.
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Permalink Reply by Wolfy Lang on
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Within the last year my Asst. Chief/Training Officer/Midsize City Quint Captain has begun stressing the "Face the ladder" technique for this very reason. My personal opinion is, ALL you training officers who continue to teach "behind the ladder" ... Need to have an axe dropped on your head and when you wake up, you can wonder where it came from. Its not only hazardous, but EXTREMELY dangerous to stand beneath a ladder when any kind of evolution is going on, training or otherwise. You cant see what is going on, but more importantly, you cant be the safety man for the guy who is looking at the rungs of the ladder climbing it, for starters. While we are on the topic of safety, If any of you are still sticking your legs INTO the rungs to lock on after you climb it, whats going to happen if that ladder falls ?? You are a part of that ladder and have NO way off or out. We are also now being taught that as long as you have three points of contact, you are safe. Put your arm through the rung and reach your tool from behind the ladder and one out front of the ladder. Your tool provides the lock as long as you dont let go. Training officers, please, think about it, not just go with the typical line of thought on ladder safety!!! The life that might be saved... could be MINE!!!
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I'm a training officer, and I completely disagree with this.
We foot our ladders from behind, and we routinely count down the steps for the firefighter descending the ladder.
We don't worry about having tools dropped on our heads, because we're out of the path where the tool may be dropped. If you're not under the ladder, you're much more exposed to dropped tools than if you're behind the ladder.
Leg locks work fine. If the ladder is properly placed and properly heeled, it won't fall over while someone is leg-locked to it.
Placing a tool behind the ladder to work means that the ladder is improperly placed. The primary purpose for locking onto a ladder while carrying a tool is for horizontal ventialation of other windows. If you place the ladder to use the tool behind it. then the firefighter on the ladder is exposed to the heat, smoke, and fire that will vent from the window when it is vented.
And...if you are on a ladder that falls, it doesn't matter if you're leg-locked, tool-locked, hooked to the ladder with a ladder belt, or just standing on a rung - you're going to fal lwith the ladder. You have no way off or out, regardless.
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Permalink Reply by Reg Mathis on
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I'm with you on this one Ben!
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Permalink Reply by lutan1 on
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I'm a training officer, and I completely disagree with this.
But as a Training Officer Ben, I disagree with being behind the ladder.
So who's wrong? Who's right?
This debate could go on for years with both parties thinking they're right....
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My point - being a Training Officer doesn't necessarily make one position or another the correct one.
I'm interested - has anyone actually seen an injury occur due to one heeling method or another, or is this entirely hypothetical?
In my case, I've seen injuries from dropped tools while heeling from the front and none while heeling from the rear, so I'm not just citing theory or textbook photos here.
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