It is a safe practice to use a stepladder in which the spreaders have not been fully locked into position.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Only if the ladder is new
• D. Only with supervision

Answer: (B)

Stepladder safety hinges on the spreaders being fully locked. The spreaders are the braces that keep the two sides apart and the ladder rigid. If they aren’t fully engaged, the legs can drift inward, the ladder can wobble, or even collapse when weight is applied. That makes climbing or standing on it dangerous.

Because of that risk, it is not safe to use a stepladder with spreaders not locked. Always check that the spreaders are locked in place and the ladder sits on a firm, level surface before use. A new ladder or supervision does not change this rule—lock the spreaders first and inspect for damage, then proceed, keeping three points of contact and avoiding overreaching.