Unless you have a fear of heights, there's no reason to be afraid of using a ladder. A ladder isn't dangerous as long as it's in good condition and you use it safely.

Here's what you can do to minimise risk when using a ladder...

Self-supporting step ladders are generally safe and easy to use, but there are certain precautions you should take to minimise your risk of falling and injuring yourself.

For example, it may not be safe to stand on your step ladder's topmost treads. The exact rules depend on what sort of ladder you're using - read on for details.

What angle should a ladder be?

The HSE (Health and Safety Executive) recommends leaning your ladder at a 75-degree angle so that the base is positioned at one-quarter of the working length of the ladder. This is commonly referred to as the ‘1 in 4’ rule.

We sell a wide variety of ladders here at Ladders UK Direct. As you browse our website, you may notice that a lot of our extension ladders come with a stabiliser bar included as standard.

A stabiliser bar is a horizontal bar that widens the base of the ladder to keep it from slipping. Very often, this 'foot' is integrated into the ladder's design, but stabiliser bars are also sold separately (in which case they can be attached or removed as needed).

Step ladders are a type of self-supporting ladder. Unlike, say, an extension ladder - which must be leaned up against a wall or another surface that's sturdy enough to support it - a step ladder can stand up all on its own, without any additional support or stabilisation.

But here's a question that a lot of people ask: can a step ladder be leaned against a wall and used as a straight ladder if the situation demands it? Or should step ladders exclusively be used as self-supporting ladders?