March is National Ladder Safety Month

In every step you climb, always put safety first!

In the United States alone, more than 500,000 people per year are treated – and more than 300 people die from ladder-related injuries. Since ladders are used in virtually every industry, preventing falls is critical!

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), there is a pressing need to address the serious problem of ladder-related falls in order to reduce serious injuries and deaths. 

General Safety OSHA 29 CFR 1910.23

Construction Safety OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1053

The Construction Safety is the version that is cited most often – and is one of OSHA’s Top 10 Violation.

The American Ladder Institute (ALI) has put together a movement exclusively to promote ladder safety at home and in the workplace. During the entire month of March, National Ladder Safety Month will bring heightened awareness to the importance of the safe use of ladders through resources, training, and a national dialogue.

National Ladder Safety Month is the only movement dedicated exclusively to the promotion of ladder safety! Show your commitment to safety and motivate your workers to practice the dos and don'ts of using ladders.

The goals of the National Ladder Safety Month are to lower the rankings of ladder-related safety citations on OSHA’s yearly “Top 10 Citations List”, decrease the number of injuries and fatalities caused by ladders, and increase the number of competent ladder inspector training.

For more ladder safety information from ALI and to participate in National Ladder Safety Month, visit: https://www.laddersafetymonth.com/

The most common cause of ladder-related falls as noted by NIOSH are:

• Incorrect extension ladder setup angle. In about 40% of ladder-related injuries, the ladder slides out at the base because the ladder is at an incorrect setup angle.
• Inappropriate ladder selection. Selecting a ladder with the correct duty rating is critical, as it helps avoid structural failure. Learn more about selecting the proper duty rating here and applying ladder safety, here.
• Insufficient ladder inspection. Per OSHA, workers are supposed to complete a ladder inspection before each use. To ensure ladders are working properly, inspect ladders and use this Ladder Safety Checklist provided by OSHA. Always prevent others from using ladders with defects by placing Ladder Shields and Signs on damaged equipment.
• Improper ladder use. Never use a ladder for a purpose other than for which it's designed for. For example, a stepladder shouldn’t be used as a single ladder. Workers should be trained to use ladders safely.
• Lack of access to ladder safety tools and information. When ladders are used in the home, standard training is typically not available. Some small companies don’t have effective ladder safety programs and are difficult to reach.

Ensure you and your employees fully understand how to properly use a ladder and are provided with appropriate training. Always prevent unauthorized climb on ladders with Ladder Lockouts and eliminate serious injuries in your workplace or construction site.

Prevent others from entering onto defective ladders with Ladder Shields™.  Ladder Shields™ Kits come with everything you need to effectively prevent ladder accidents.

Train, educate, and inform others how to properly use ladders with Ladder Safety Training Kits. With Ladder Safety Training Kits workers use ladders safely.