If a ladder is found to be defective, it can be left in service until repairs can be made.

If a ladder is found to be defective, it can be left in service until repairs can be made.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not sure
• D. Depends on damage

Answer: (B)

Defective equipment must be removed from service immediately. When a ladder is found to be defective, it compromises stability and strength, increasing the risk of a fall. Repairing a ladder doesn’t automatically make it safe again, and a qualified person should assess whether any repair restores safe load-bearing capacity. The safe action is to tag it out and remove it from use until it has been repaired and verified as safe, or replaced. Not leaving it in service isn’t just a preference—it’s about preventing an avoidable injury. That’s why choices suggesting it’s okay to leave it in service, or that the answer depends on the damage, aren’t appropriate. Any known defect signals unsafe conditions until proper action is taken.

Defective equipment must be removed from service immediately. When a ladder is found to be defective, it compromises stability and strength, increasing the risk of a fall. Repairing a ladder doesn’t automatically make it safe again, and a qualified person should assess whether any repair restores safe load-bearing capacity. The safe action is to tag it out and remove it from use until it has been repaired and verified as safe, or replaced.

Not leaving it in service isn’t just a preference—it’s about preventing an avoidable injury. That’s why choices suggesting it’s okay to leave it in service, or that the answer depends on the damage, aren’t appropriate. Any known defect signals unsafe conditions until proper action is taken.