Materials should be raised to the work station on a tether. In many accidents, either the ladder or worker slipped. A ladder should always have four point contact with the working surface, and pressure on each leg should be proportional. The climber must always maintain three points of contact with the ladder. Safe contact can be maintained with two feet and one hand.
Weight is centered within the rails of the ladder.
If the working surface is slippery or unstable, the worker must tie or strap the ladder to the rear surface at the top and bottom. These limitations make the ladder too restrictive in many applications. These mass produced, tools exist in both a social and legal context. Its secondary use, as a work station, is limited. Painters, line men, and many installers can use a ladder successfully.