At Berglund, safety is a way of life. Thanks to hard work, a change in culture and a new safety program, we now have an experience modification rating (EMR) – the number insurance companies use to measure the cost of past injuries at a company and gauge future risk – of .82. The industry average is 1.0.

But we’re not resting on our laurels: We’ve hired Tony Baca as our new, full-time safety director. With more than 31 years of industry experience, 10- and 30-hour OSHA training certifications, first-aid certification, and 130- and 500-hour Chicagoland Safety Council certifications, there is no one better than Tony to uphold Berglund’s commitment to safety.

While we’re on the topic of safety, how about a ladder safety refresher course?

As Tony will tell you, it’s crucial to adhere to the “4-to-1 ratio” rule: For every 4 feet of height on your ladder, there should be 1 foot of space between the wall and the bottom of the ladder. For example, for a ladder that goes 16 feet high, the base of the ladder should sit 4 feet back from the surface upon which the ladder is propped.

Need a quick and easy way to ensure the angle of your ladder is safe? Stand with your toes touching the base of the ladder and extend your arms straight out in front of you. If the tips of your fingers go beyond the front of the ladder rungs, you need to pull the base of the ladder out further to establish the correct ratio. If your fingers don’t touch the ladder however, you may need to push the base of the ladder in slightly.

This angle, for example, could be an accident waiting to happen:

This one is much better:

Stay tuned for more safety tips and news on Brick by Brick: A Berglund Blog.