To stop an extension ladder slipping, put both feet on firm, level, stable ground; set the ladder at the correct angle; inspect that the feet are intact and seated; and secure the ladder against movement whenever the surface is slippery or people, vehicles, or work activity could displace it. Slip-resistant feet help, but they do not replace careful placement, lashing, or holding. Never level a ladder with boxes, boards, bricks, buckets, or other loose objects.
The instructions below reflect U.S. OSHA construction requirements and guidance. Your ladder manufacturer’s instructions, the site-specific hazard assessment, and stricter local rules still apply.
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Why an extension ladder slips at the bottom
A ladder usually moves because the base cannot develop reliable friction or because the ladder is loaded in a direction the setup was not prepared to resist. Common causes include soft soil, loose gravel, wet or oily concrete, a slope, worn safety feet, an incorrect setup angle, an unsecured top, and people or equipment striking the ladder.
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These causes are different hazards and need different corrections. A replacement foot can address a broken or missing foot, but it will not make soft ground stable. A leveler can address an approved uneven-ground application, but it is not a general cure for slick concrete. Lashing can prevent displacement, but it cannot make a ladder safely stand on a loose object. Start by identifying the actual condition at the base.
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Match the fix to the ground condition
| What you find | What it means | Correct response |
|---|---|---|
| Firm, level, clean surface | The feet can seat evenly and develop predictable contact. | Place both footpads fully on the surface, set the correct angle, and secure the ladder if it could be displaced. |
| Slippery concrete, metal, or another slick surface | Friction may be too low for the forces created while climbing or working. | Remove avoidable slipping hazards, use serviceable slip-resistant feet, and secure the ladder against displacement. Do not rely on the feet alone. |
| Soft soil, mud, loose fill, or unstable ground | The feet can sink, tilt, or move independently. | Do not use the ladder there until a genuinely stable, level base is provided or the work method is changed. Never use loose objects as improvised supports. |
| Uneven but otherwise suitable ground | One foot may carry more load or the ladder may lean sideways. | Use only a ladder leveler approved for the exact ladder and application, and still follow the rules for stable footing and securing against movement. |
| Worn, cracked, broken, or missing foot | The ladder’s designed contact and grip may be compromised. | Remove the ladder from service. Repair or replace the foot with a part compatible with the exact make and model, following the manufacturer’s instructions. |
| Foot traffic, vehicles, doors, or nearby work | An outside force could knock or shift the ladder. | Secure it against displacement or guard the area with a barricade before climbing. |
Set up the ladder safely, step by step
- Stop and assess the work area. Identify soft patches, slopes, water, oil, mud, loose aggregate, doors, vehicle routes, overhead hazards, and activities that could contact the ladder. If the base cannot be made stable and level, do not proceed with this ladder setup.
- Inspect the ladder before moving it into position. Check both safety feet for wear, cracks, looseness, or missing parts. Also look for damaged rails, rungs, locks, or other defects. A defective ladder should be removed from use until it is properly repaired.
- Clear and prepare the base. Remove debris and any avoidable substance that reduces traction. The intended base must be firm and level enough for both footpads to sit securely. Do not place a foot on a box, barrel, pallet, loose board, stone, bucket, or similar object to compensate for a low spot.
- Place both feet squarely. The two footpads should have full, stable contact with the prepared surface. They should not be perched on an edge, twisted in different directions, or separated by a gap that allows one side to settle.
- Align the ladder with its top support. Position the rails squarely toward the support rather than forcing the ladder to lean sideways. A sideways lean can make the base walk or twist when you climb.
- Set the approximate four-to-one angle. For a non-self-supporting extension ladder, OSHA’s construction standard says the horizontal distance from the top support to the foot should be approximately one-quarter of the working length. In practical terms, the base is about one foot out for every four feet of working length. This is an approximate setup relationship, not permission to ignore the manufacturer’s instructions or site conditions.
- Confirm the extension sections and locks. Make sure the ladder is extended only as far as needed, the rung locks are fully engaged, and the sections are arranged according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Do not climb while a section is moving or a lock is only partly seated.
- Secure against displacement when needed. If the surface is slippery or the ladder could be bumped, kicked, pushed, or shifted by work activity, use a suitable method to secure it to an appropriate support. Where securing is not practical, keep a competent person holding it only for the period and conditions in which that control is effective; do not treat a person as a substitute for a stable base.
- Control the surrounding area. Lock or guard doors that could open into the ladder where feasible, keep vehicles and equipment away, and use a barricade when workplace traffic could displace the ladder. Tell nearby workers not to move or touch it.
- Perform a final movement check from the ground. Without climbing, verify that both feet remain seated, the rails are stable, the top support is sound, and the ladder does not slide, rock, or twist under light hand pressure. If it moves, climb down from the plan and correct the setup.
How to secure an extension ladder against sliding
OSHA requires ladders to be used on stable and level surfaces unless they are secured to prevent accidental displacement. Securing is especially important on slippery surfaces and wherever another person, a door, a vehicle, or nearby work could move the ladder.
Secure the top when the support allows it
Use a suitable lashing or other restraint that is compatible with the ladder and the support. The restraint should prevent the top from moving sideways or away from the support without damaging the ladder or relying on a weak fixture. A tie that is attached to a loose sign, temporary trim, or an otherwise unsound support is not a reliable control.
Control the base as part of the same setup
A top tie does not make an unstable base acceptable. Both feet still need firm, level contact, and the ladder still needs the correct angle. If the base can slide while the top is restrained, the ladder may pivot, rack, or pull the support in an unsafe direction. Use a complete setup that addresses the direction in which movement could occur.
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Use a barricade when people or equipment are the hazard
In a busy work area, keep traffic outside a clearly marked exclusion zone. OSHA allows guarding the area with a barricade where activity could displace a ladder. A barricade is a site-control measure; it does not replace sound footing, a proper angle, or a defective-foot repair.
What to do on slippery concrete or metal
Concrete and metal can look flat and solid while still providing poor traction when wet, oily, dusty, or inherently slick. OSHA specifically warns that slip-resistant feet are not a substitute for care in placing, lashing, or holding a ladder on slippery surfaces.
- Remove avoidable water, oil, mud, dust, or other contamination from the exact contact area before setting the ladder.
- Check that both feet are the correct parts for the ladder and that their gripping surfaces are not worn smooth, torn, or detached.
- Set the ladder squarely and at the approximate four-to-one angle; a shallow or steep angle changes the forces at the feet.
- Secure the ladder against displacement when a slide is possible, and barricade nearby traffic.
- Stop work if the surface remains too slick for a controlled setup. Do not try to solve the problem with a loose mat, scrap lumber, cardboard, or another item that can itself move.
Uneven ground: when a leveler is appropriate
Uneven ground is not the same as slippery ground. If one side is low, the ladder can lean sideways even when the soil or pavement is firm. A manufacturer-approved ladder leveler may be appropriate for an uneven-ground application, but the accessory must be designed for the exact ladder and used as its instructions specify.
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Checks before using a leveler
- Confirm that the ladder manufacturer permits the leveler on that model and extension configuration.
- Read the leveler’s limits, installation requirements, locking procedure, and allowable surface conditions.
- Ensure the adjusted feet still rest on a stable, level bearing area rather than soft soil or loose debris.
- Check that the leveler is fully locked before loading the ladder.
- Secure the ladder against displacement if sliding, tipping, or site traffic remains possible.
An adjustable leveler is not a blanket solution for slick concrete, soft soil, missing feet, or an unsecured ladder. OSHA’s interpretation concerning adjustable levelers discusses their use but does not endorse a particular product or say that a leveler alone prevents sliding.
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Safety feet are wear parts. Inspect them before each use and whenever the ladder has been dragged, dropped, exposed to chemicals, or used on an abrasive surface. Look for a worn gripping pattern, cracking, distortion, separation from the shoe, loose fasteners, or a missing pad. OSHA identifies worn or broken safety feet as signs of a ladder defect.
When to remove the ladder from service
Tag or otherwise identify the ladder as out of service if a foot is damaged, missing, loose, or too worn to provide the intended contact. Do not keep using it “just for one short climb.” A foot defect can change the load distribution and make a previously stable setup unpredictable.
How to choose a replacement
Replacement feet are not universal. Select a part specified for the exact ladder make and model, section, and foot design. Follow the ladder manufacturer’s installation instructions, including any required fasteners or torque information. If the model or part cannot be positively identified, ask the manufacturer or an authorized service source rather than guessing from appearance.
Replacing a foot restores the ladder’s designed component; it does not remove the need for stable ground, correct angle, securing, and traffic control. After replacement, perform the same pre-use setup and movement check as with any ladder.
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Safe behavior while climbing and working
A well-prepared base can still become unsafe through poor climbing technique or movement at the work position.
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- Face the ladder while climbing and descending.
- Maintain three points of contact—two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand—whenever the task allows.
- Keep your body between the side rails instead of leaning out to reach.
- Carry tools in a belt, hoist them after you are positioned, or use another method that leaves your hands available; do not climb with bulky items in both hands.
- Do not move, slide, “walk,” extend, retract, or reposition the ladder while anyone is on it.
- Descend and reset the ladder when the work area can no longer be reached without leaning or stretching.
These practices reduce the sideways and backward forces that can overcome even good footing. They are controls for the person using the ladder, not substitutes for correcting a defective or unstable setup.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Common failed fixes and their safer alternatives
“I put a board under the short foot.”
A loose board or similar object can shift, split, or eject as the load changes. Remove it and create a genuinely stable, level base, use an approved leveler if the manufacturer allows one, or choose another access method.
“The rubber feet are enough on this slick slab.”
Slip-resistant feet improve contact but do not replace careful placement, lashing, or holding on a slippery surface. Clean and assess the slab, then secure the ladder when displacement is possible.
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That is a traffic-control problem as well as a ladder problem. Establish a barricaded exclusion area or relocate the ladder away from the route, and secure it before climbing.
“One foot is worn, but the other one looks fine.”
Do not compensate by turning the ladder or shifting your weight. Remove it from service and install the correct replacement for that model, or use another inspected ladder.
“A leveler will fix this muddy patch.”
A leveler addresses approved leveling needs, not unstable soil. Mud, loose fill, and sinking ground must be eliminated or replaced with a stable base before the ladder is used.
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“The top is tied, so the bottom can sit anywhere.”
A top restraint does not legalize soft, unstable, or improvised footing. Keep both feet on stable, level ground and use the approximate four-to-one angle in addition to securing the ladder.
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- Both safety feet are present, compatible with the ladder, and free of damaging wear.
- The base is firm, stable, level, and clear of slipping hazards.
- No box, barrel, pallet, loose board, brick, bucket, or other improvised support is under a foot.
- The ladder is aligned squarely with a sound top support.
- The approximate one-to-four setup relationship is used for the non-self-supporting ladder.
- Extension locks are fully engaged and the ladder has no defect requiring removal from service.
- The ladder is secured against displacement where the surface or worksite creates a movement risk.
- Doors, vehicles, equipment, and pedestrians cannot strike the ladder; a barricade is in place where needed.
- You can climb facing the ladder, keep three points of contact, and stay between the rails.
- No one will move or adjust the ladder while you are on it.
What OSHA requires—and what it does not establish
OSHA’s construction ladder standard states: “Ladders shall be used only on stable and level surfaces unless secured to prevent accidental displacement.” It also states: “Slip-resistant feet shall not be used as a substitute for care in placing, lashing, or holding a ladder that is used upon slippery surfaces including, but not limited to, flat metal or concrete surfaces that are constructed so they cannot be prevented from becoming slippery.”
Those requirements establish the core decision: correct the footing first, then secure the ladder when displacement is possible. OSHA’s materials do not establish a universal replacement foot, endorse a particular leveler, or validate a single accessory as suitable for every ladder. Compatibility and installation must come from the ladder manufacturer.
The guidance summarized here is U.S. workplace construction guidance. Residential users, employers, and contractors should also follow the ladder’s labeling and manual, complete a site-specific hazard assessment, and comply with applicable local requirements.
When to abandon the setup
Stop and choose another method if you cannot obtain firm, level footing; cannot keep both feet seated; cannot secure the ladder against a foreseeable displacement; cannot protect it from traffic; or discover a defective foot or other ladder damage. A short task does not reduce the consequences of a slip. If the access point requires excessive leaning, carrying difficult loads, or repeated repositioning, a different access system may be safer than forcing an extension ladder to fit.
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