American Ladder Institute (ALI) has declared March as National Ladder Safety Month.

This effort is dedicated to ladder safety consciousness to decrease the number of ladder-related injuries and fatalities.

National Ladder Safety Month 2021 will emphasize five key themes:

Week 1: Choosing Your Ladder

Week 2: Safety Before the First Step (Inspection and Set-Up)

Week 3: Safety While Climbing

Week 4: Safety at the Top

Week 5: Ladder Safety Misconceptions

Under OSHA’s regulations, the following procedures need to be taken regarding the proper use of ladders in the workplace:

Ladders should be inspected regularly for faulty, cracked, or broken parts.
Use ladders that follow OSHA standards.
Weight limits are incredibly important. Only the amount of weight the ladder has been designed to support should be applied
Portable ladders should be safely placed each time they are used.

There are ways to secure your ladder and minimize risks by using a ladder stabilizer device.

There is evidence to support the promotion and utilization of ladder accessories that are designed to improve ladder stability.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Falls from portable ladders (step, straight, combination and extension) are one of the leading causes of occupational fatalities and injuries. OSHA proposes a series of suggestions to reduce the risk of falling from ladders.

There are some important points to recall before using it, to ensure your ladder safety and in the event of a fall from a ladder.

Always inspect the ladder prior to using it. Before starting a task, you should always carry out a ‘pre-use’ check to spot any obvious visual flaws to make sure the ladder is safe to use.
Never overreach, climb down, and move the ladder.
Do not place a ladder on an icy surface.
Always maintain three points of contact with the ladder.
Centre your weight between the ladder rails always and avoid movements.

March is Ladder Safety Month!

Falling from a ladder is one of the most frequent causes of injury across the construction industry. Working at heights, on a ladder, represents a risk that can be easily minimized by working with the right tool, which must have the necessary characteristics for the work to be done. There are many reasons why people are injured or killed each year because of accidents related to ladder usage. The main causes involve sliding of the ladder base and the ladder itself tipping sideways. Many people also sustain a back injury because of improper carrying and/or setting up the ladders.

Every year there are over 300 ladder-related fatalities in addition to many thousands being injured. The National Ladder Safety Month 2021 campaign will focus on ladder safety at work and at home in addition to providing guidance on how to inspect a ladder for safe use.

The National Ladder Safety Month 202 intended to address frightening statistics associated with ladder use in the USA. A Ladder safety accessory is a useful way to prevent falls and build your confidence when working at height. The American Ladder Institute (ALI) will focus on fundamental points this March, ensuring companies and people have the tools they need to use ladders safety at work and home.

Please visit laddersafetymonth.com for more information on ladder safety.

Consider the following questions when using a ladder.

What are the environmental conditions? – weather ie rain/heat/snow/wind
How are you feeling generally? If you are not in good health, it’s not the best time to be working on a ladder at height.
What are the legislative requirements?
Do you need to secure at the top and bottom?
Is a harness required? Are railings required?

Do You Know What to Check For?

Decide what type of ladder is appropriate for your current work environment
Confirm that the ladder is the adequate length for the task
Verify that your ladder has the proper Duty Rating
Fully inspect the ladder to ensure it is in good working condition
Clean the climbing and gripping surfaces
Understand the safety information label(s) on the ladder

Reminders about your surroundings

Verify that the ground where the ladder is set-up is secure and level
Validate that any around doors are blocked open, locked, or properly guarded
Ensure that the weather is adequately safe for using a ladder

Basic Ladder Safety

Do not use ladders in high winds or storms.
Wear clean slip-resistant shoes. Shoes with leather soles are not appropriate for ladder use since they are not considered sufficiently slip-resistant.
Before using a ladder, examine it to confirm it is in excellent working condition.
The ladder you select must be the correct size for the job.
When the ladder is set-up for use, it must be placed on firm level ground and without any type of unsafe condition present at either the base or top support points.
Ladders must not be placed in front of closed doors that can open toward the ladder. The door must be blocked open, locked, or guarded.

Please consider the National Ladder Safety Month 2021 safety resources