Tips to Avoid Gutter Accidents

Gutter cleaning may be a tedious task but safety is not something you should take for granted. A single slip can land you a spot in the emergency room. Below are some tips for you to avoid gutter cleaning risks:

·         Wear the proper shoes

Whether you’re walking on the roof or using a ladder, wear a good pair of rubber-soled shoes. Rubbers adhere to surfaces better than regular shoes or slippers. Also, schedule your cleaning when the sun is up and the moisture has dried up to avoid slip-and-fall.

  

·         Inspect the ladder

Check for dents and cracks. If your ladder is assembled with bolts and screws, ensure they’re well-tightened. When you’re using a step-up ladder, see to it that the extension-hinge arms are locked in place. Don’t forget to take note of the load capacity.

·         Use protection gears

The debris you’ll scrape off probably contains animal droppings and metal shards. Protect your skin by wearing arm-length gloves. Wear goggles to protect your eye from injury in case any animals fly or leap out of gutter in haste.

·         Do not overreach.

 

Move the ladder from time to time, but you have to be on the ground to do it. Some people try to overreach, lean far, or attempt to move the ladder while on it. Laziness may end up causing you harm, so climb down and adjust the ladder placement.

Finally, install a gutter guard. You wouldn’t have to clean the gutters as often if you’re able to keep the debris out with the gutter guards. Consider protecting your gutters with mesh-type guards.