Ladders Use and Maintenance

Question 1

LAFD extension ladders include what lengths?

Answer 1

12, 14, 20, 35

Question 2

LAFD straight ladders include what lengths?

Answer 2

16, 20, 24

Question 3

LAFD roof ladders include what lengths?

Answer 3

10, 12, 14, 16, 20

Question 4

LAFD collapsible ladders include what lengths?

Answer 4

10 (aluminum, attached to aerial)

Question 5

One member only is permitted on which ground ladders?

Answer 5

10, 12, 14, 16

Question 6

Two members are permitted on which ground ladders?

Answer 6

20, 24 ground

Question 7

Three members are permitted on which ground ladders?

Answer 7

35

Question 8

Two members are permitted on which roof ladders?

Answer 8

10, 12, 14

Question 9

Three members are permitted on which roof ladders?

Answer 9

16, 20

Question 10

Ladders should be inspected ___ and ___.

Answer 10

periodically and AFTER USE

Question 11

When inspecting ladders, check for (5):

Answer 11

(1) Marred, worn, cracked or splintered parts
(2) Shoes worn smooth
(3) Worn, frayed or loose halyards
(4) Loose tie-rods and beam bolts, and
(5) Racked, peeled or blistered finish.

Question 12

Keep ladders ___ and ___. Particular attention should be directed to ___.

Answer 12

clean and dry; crevices where wood members are joined

Question 13

Oil ___ and ___ as necessary. Check for and touch up ___ after each use.

Answer 13

locks and pulleys; chipped finish

Question 14

Adjust halyards as necessary and replace those which are ___, ___, or ____ by age. Sharpen ___ ___. Report loose ___ and ___.

Answer 14

worn, frayed, or deteriorated;
dull shoes;
tie-rods and beam bolts

Question 15

_______, ladders of wood construction may be carefully ___ and lightly ___.

Answer 15

When necessary;

scraped, sanded

Question 16

Minimum of ___ coats of clear finish, per Department specifications, should then be applied as a means of preserving the wood and facilitating inspection. ___ ___ between coats.

Answer 16

two;

Sand lightly

Question 17

___ ___ shall not be used on ladders except on metal parts and for marking.

Answer 17

Pigmented paints

Question 18

Marking the ___ and ___ ___ on the metal parts at both ends eliminates the guesswork when removing or replacing ladders.

Answer 18

length;

company designation

Question 19

When spotting ladders, avoid unnecessary blocking of ___, ___, etc.

Answer 19

doors, passageways

Question 20

Ladders are generally spotted so that when raised, the top of the ladder will be to the ___ side of the window to facilitate ______.

Answer 20

left;

getting on or off

Question 21

The proper climbing angle of a ladder is approximately ___ degrees. To obtain this angle, the base of the ladder should be placed at a distance from the building or objective equal to approximately _______.

Answer 21

70;

1/4 the desired height

Question 22

Ladders raised to windows may be secured by strapping rung to a ___ ___, ___ or other similar object placed ___ ___ ___ ___. On roofs, ___ ___ and straps may be used.

Answer 22

pike pole, crowbar,
horizontally just inside window;
hay hooks

Question 23

When it is not possible to secure ladders at the top, the ___ shall be ___ to prevent slipping when members are climbing or working.

Answer 23

base, footed

Question 24

It is an extreme hazard to be ______ on a ladder that has not been secured

Answer 24

locked in

Question 25

Length of the aerial unextended?

Answer 25

32’

Question 26

Rung spacing on the aerial ladder?

Answer 26

14”

Question 27

The 12X is made up of 2 ___ sections.

Answer 27

7’

Question 28

The 14X is made up of 2 ___ sections.

Answer 28

9’

Question 29

The 20X is made up of 2 ___ sections.

Answer 29

12’

Question 30

The 35X is made up on 2 ___ sections.

Answer 30

20’

Question 31

___ center rungs are made of solid ___.

Answer 31

Swelled, Hickory

Question 32

___ beams, ___ guides, and other miscellaneous wear parts are made of ___.

Answer 32

Cross, slide, Red Oak

Question 33

___ trusses are made of ____________.

Answer 33

West Coast Douglas Fir

Question 34

Ladder hardware is made of ___, which is ___ before painting for corrosion protection.

Answer 34

steel, plated

Question 35

Ladders bolts are locked with ___-___ ___.

Answer 35

anti-tamper nuts

Question 36

Ladder shoes are ___ ___ ___ ___, for better traction than aluminum. Shoes are sharpened to a ___ point.

Answer 36

H-type milled steel, screwdriver

Question 37

12X is used for?

Answer 37

Interior operations; 
scuttle holes
lockboxes (rubber shoes protect and provide grip on nice floors)
attic spaces
can be used as stepladder
pike pole attached

Question 38

14X is used for?

Answer 38

Interior and exterior; 
lockboxes
attics
stepladder or separated to make 2 ladders
pike pole attached

Question 39

20X is used to reach ____________.

Answer 39

Second story windows
one story roofs
some second story fire escapes
inside on commercials

Question 40

35X is used to reach ____________.

Answer 40

Fire escape balconies
roofs of 2 and some 3 story buildings
second and third flood windows

Question 41

16’ and 20’ straight ladders are used to reach _________.

Answer 41

roofs of one-story single family dwellings

windows on second floors

Question 42

24’ straight ladder can reach _________.

Answer 42

roofs on one-story commercials
windows on the second floor
fire escape balconies

Question 43

When is ladder inspection performed?

Answer 43

Periodically (weekly), after use, and annually

Question 44

Form for annual ground ladder inspection is the ___.

Answer 44

F-976

Question 45

Paint is only used on ladders to paint shoes ___, and to mark ladders with the ___ ___ and ___.

Answer 45

silver, Company ID and length

Question 46

Scratches, scrapes, and gouges should be ___ at a ___ degree angle, then ___ smooth with a ___-grit sandpaper. A coat of ___ ___ can be brushed into the sanded area before a coat of ___ ___ ___ is applied.

Answer 46

scraped, 45
sanded, medium
paint thinner, tung oil varnish

Question 47

After first coat of varnish has dried, ___ ___with ___ and apply a second coat. Let dry ______ and return to service.

Answer 47

rough up, sandpaper

24 hours

Question 48

When spotting, the base of a ladder should be placed approximately ___ of the height of the ___ out from the base of the objective. This provides the ideal climbing angle of ___-___ degrees.

Answer 48

1/4, objective, 70-80

Question 49

Extension above windows and fire escape balconies should be approximately ___ foot.

Answer 49

1

Question 50

Extension above windows and fire escape balconies should be at least ___ feet.

Answer 50

3

Question 51

Ladder the ___ of buildings, where they are strongest. On panelized roofs, look for ___ and place ladders approximately ___ from the ___.

Answer 51

corners, pilasters, 8’, corner

Question 52

Avoid putting ladders over ___, ___, and ___ ___.

Answer 52

doors, windows, attic vents

Question 53

Ladder and work from ___ to ___.

Answer 53

uninvolved, involved