When climbing a single or extension ladder, how many points of contact should you maintain?

Maintaining three points of contact while climbing a ladder is crucial for ensuring stability and safety. This means having two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand in contact with the ladder at all times. This practice significantly reduces the likelihood of losing balance and falling, especially when reaching or adjusting your position on the ladder.

By maintaining three points of contact, you create a more secure and stable platform for yourself, allowing for better control while working at height. This is particularly important since a ladder can be unstable when there's movement or shifting of weight, so a strong grip and solid footing are essential for safe navigation.

Options indicating one or two points of contact do not provide adequate stability, increasing the risk of accidents. Similarly, maintaining four points of contact isn’t feasible because it’s physically impossible to manage that on a standard ladder while climbing, as it would require holding onto the ladder with more limbs than are available. Thus, the emphasis on three points of contact aligns with best practices for ladder safety.