Ladder Accessories & Add-Ons
Ladder accessories can make work safer: levelers for sloped ground, stabilizers for wider support, hooks and trays that free your hands. But adding the wrong accessory, or a homemade one, can make a ladder less stable or exceed its limits. The ladder and the accessory must be made to work together.
- Painters
- Electricians
- Roofers
- Maintenance Techs
- Homeowners
The rule: use what the maker approves
- Use accessories made for your ladder model and approved by the ladder manufacturer. Check the manual and labels.
- The accessory must not reduce the ladder's duty rating (the maximum load including you, tools and materials) or change how it folds, locks or sits. Don't exceed the lower rating of the ladder or the accessory.
- OSHA says ladders must not be loaded beyond their maximum intended load and must be used only for their designed purpose, with defective ladders taken out of service. See Ladder Basics and Job-Made Ladders.
- Homemade add-ons, such as blocks under legs, plywood platforms, ropes tied to rungs or modified ladder tops, are not approved and can fail. Don't improvise.
Common accessories and how to use them
| Accessory | Purpose | Safety points |
|---|---|---|
| Ladder levelers (leg levelers) | Adjust one or both legs on uneven ground or stairs | Use only levelers rated for the ladder, set both sides to the same slope, check that feet are firm and fully locked. Don't use for slopes beyond the maker's limit |
| Stabilizers and standoffs | Widen the top contact and hold the ladder away from the wall; clear gutters and windows | Mount on both rails, secure fully, and check rating. They don't replace tying off. Keep the ladder at the right angle |
| Ladder feet and shoes | Grip floors or soil | Replace worn or cracked feet. Use the right type: rubber for hard floors, spikes for soil where permitted. Not on ice |
| Ladder hooks, gutter hooks and roof hooks | Hang or hold on a structure | Need strong structures. Don't hang from gutters or weak edges. Use for light tasks only |
| Tool trays, paint shelves and hooks | Hold tools, paint cans and parts | Keep loads light and centered, within rating. Use a tray that clips to the ladder, not a loose one. Don't overload or reach sideways |
| Work platforms (ladder-top and platform accessories) | Give a wider surface for standing | Use only those made for the ladder, with maker instructions and handrails if provided. Never stand on a platform not rated for it |
| Ladder mats and wall protectors | Protect floors and walls and add slip resistance | Use non-slip types; don't stack mats or let them bunch |
| Ladder straps, ties and anchors | Secure the top and bottom to a structure | Tie to a sound point at the top, with a short secure line, not to a loose object. See Extension Ladders |
| Ladder jacks and planks | Support a work platform between two ladders | A scaffold, not an accessory. Follow rules in Ladder-Jack Scaffolds |
What to avoid
- Blocks, bricks, boxes and stacked scrap under ladder legs to level it. They shift and cause falls.
- Using a ladder on the top step or rung even with an accessory. Don't use the top cap or the top step as a step.
- Adding a platform to a ladder not designed for it, or standing on a plank across two ladders (this is a scaffold, with its own rules).
- Metal accessories near power lines or electrical equipment. Use non-conductive ladders and accessories. See Ladder Materials and Overhead Power Lines.
- Overreaching because a tray or hook holds a bucket. Keep your belt buckle between the rails and reposition the ladder instead.
- Damaged or mismatched accessories with bent brackets, cracked plastic, loose bolts or missing pins.
Inspect and store
- Inspect accessories with the ladder before each use: check for cracks, bends, rust, loose fasteners, worn feet and missing parts. See Fall Gear Inspection.
- Tag and remove damaged items from use, and don't repair structural parts yourself.
- Store dry and clean, free of oil and mud which cause slips. Keep manuals and labels readable.
- Train workers on each accessory used, and match the right ladder type to the job. See Platform Ladders and Step Ladders.
Ladder accessory checklist
- The accessory is approved for my ladder model and doesn't lower its duty rating
- I use rated levelers on uneven ground, not blocks or scrap
- Standoffs and stabilizers are secured on both rails
- Trays and hooks carry light loads and I don't overreach
- I inspected the ladder and every accessory before climbing
Standards & references
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