If a ladder is unstable while in use, what is the safest action?

• A. Continue climbing slowly and hold on
• B. Move the ladder to a more stable location with assistance
• C. Remove the ladder entirely from the scene
• D. Ignore it and finish setup

Answer: (B)

Instability on a ladder creates a high risk of tipping or slipping, so the safest move is to stop and address the stability before continuing. Moving the ladder to a more stable location with assistance ensures it can be set on a firm, level surface and kept steady while you reposition it, reducing the chance of a fall. Having someone help to guide and stabilize the ladder during the move adds a second set of hands to control movement and prevent sudden shifts. Climbing on an unstable ladder or ignoring the wobble markedly increases fall risk, and simply finishing up in that condition isn’t acceptable. Once the ladder is secure and correctly set, you can resume work with proper footing and angle.