HOW TO RAISE A STRAIGHT OR EXTENSION LADDER, TWO PERSON, BEAM METHOD

1. Butt person gives commands 
   • We are going to do a beam raise to —————– 
   • Overhead is clear of obstructions 
   • Prepare to beam raise ladder 
   • Beam raise ladder 
2. Butt person spots ladder and covers butt spur with appropriate foot 
   • Maintaining proper body mechanics 
   • Controlling beam of ladder 
3. Tip person raises the tip 
   • Grabbing lower beam 
   • Raising to shoulder 
     • Hand over hand  
     • Straight arms 
4. Ladder becomes vertical 
   • Base position 
     • High/Low hands 
     • Inside of knee in beam 
     • Instep of foot wrapped around butt spur 
5. Pivot ladder 
   • We are going to pivot the ladder on this beam towards you/me 
     • Maintaining hands on beams 
     • If more/less than 90 degree, vocalize the intent 
   • Prepare to pivot ladder 
     • Butt person gets into position 
   • Pivot ladder 
     • Tip person gets into position and pivot occurs 
6. Extend fly 
   • Prepare to extend fly, fingers and toes clear 
     • Butt person positions hands on halyard 
     • Tip person indicates clear 
   • Extending fly 
     • Butt person eyes on tip 
     • Hand over hand 
     • Maintaining stable ladder position 
   • Butt person indicates when all dogs/pawls are locked 
     • 1, 2, 3, 4 dogs locked 
7. Lower ladder into building 
   • Prepare to lower ladder into building 
     • Butt person positions hands on rung of ladder 
     • Butt person places foot on rung of ladder 
   • Lower ladder 
     • Tip person transitions to position maintaining hands on beam 
     • Moves back with good body mechanics 
8. Butt person verbalizes as distance closes 
   • 4, 3, 2, 1 
9. Butt person checks climbing angle/4 points of contact and verbalizes intent if tip/butt require adjustment 
   • Prepare to adjust tip 
     • Adjust tip 
   • Prepare to adjust butt 
     • Adjust butt 
10.  Tip person ties off halyard  
    • Bangor knot 
      • Announces ladder is ready to climb 

LADDER COMMANDS 

Prepare to remove ladder from engine/truck 

Remove ladder 

On ground – Prepare to beam ladder 

Beam ladder 

On ground – Prepare to shoulder ladder 

Shoulder ladder 

Intent: We are going to do a beam raise to ———–, overhead is clear of obstructions 

Prepare to move out 

Move out 

Prepare to beam raise ladder 

Beam raise ladder 

Intent: We are going to pivot the ladder on this beam towards you/me 

Prepare to pivot ladder 

Pivot ladder 

Prepare to extend fly fingers and toes clear 

Extending fly 

Prepare to lower ladder into building 

Lower ladder into building 

Intent: We are going to adjust the tip/butt 

Prepare to adjust the tip/butt 

Adjust the tip/butt 

Intent: We are going to scrape the ladder 

Prepare to scrape ladder 

Scrape ladder 

Intent: We are going to roll ladder 

Prepare to roll ladder towards you/me 

Roll ladder 

Prepare to remove ladder from building 

Remove ladder from building 

Vertical 

Prepare to retract fly fingers and toes clear 

Retracting fly 

Intent: We are going to lower the ladder on this beam in that direction 

Prepare to lower ladder 

Lower ladder 

Prepare to shoulder ladder 

Shoulder ladder 

Prepare to put ladder on engine/truck 

Put ladder on engine/truck 

On ground – Prepare to beam ladder 

Beam ladder 

On ground – Prepare to bed ladder 

Bed ladder 

GENERAL COMMANDS 

Prepare to move out 

Move out 

Prepare to stop 

Stop 

Prepare to reverse ladder 

Reverse ladder 

Pivot left 

Pivot right 

Ladder coming through