What is an essential safety practice when using ladders?

The essential safety practice among the choices provided is using both hands while climbing. When ascending or descending a ladder, it's critical to maintain three points of contact: two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand. This technique significantly enhances stability and reduces the risk of slipping or falling. By ensuring both hands are free to grip the rungs, a climber can maintain better balance and control of their movement on the ladder.

This practice contributes to overall safety by allowing climbers to make secure movements without compromising their grip, which is vital since a fall from a height can result in serious injury. In ladder safety training, the focus is often placed on maintaining this secure grip and using the ladder as intended to avoid accidents.