How many points of contact should be maintained when climbing or descending a ladder?

Maintaining three points of contact when climbing or descending a ladder is essential for ensuring safety and stability. This practice helps provide an adequate margin of safety, reducing the risk of falling by ensuring that at least two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand, are always in contact with the ladder. This distribution of weight and balance makes it significantly less likely for a climber to lose their grip or footing.

Though some options suggest fewer points of contact, adhering to the three-point contact rule is a widely accepted safety standard in climbing and working at heights. This standard is rooted in best practices for minimizing the potential for accidents and injuries while using ladders.