This March marks the sixth annual Ladder Safety Month, presented by the American Ladder Institute. With the spring building and home improvement season kicking off, homebuilders and homeowners alike should refresh their training on ladder safety.
There are over 137 ladder injuries every day in the U.S. In fact, ladder accidents account for 10 times more emergency room than house fires.
And you might be surprised to hear that the No. 1 reason for ladder injuries is missing the last step, with overreaching being the second highest reason.
For homebuilders, ladder accidents account for a substantial percentage of jobsite injuries and OSHA citations. An estimated 81% of construction site fall injuries treated in hospital emergency rooms involve a ladder.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health reports 500,000 people are treated and about 300 people die from ladder-related accidents each year. The estimated annual cost of ladder injuries in the United States is $24 billion, including work loss, medical, legal, liability and pain and suffering expenses.
For at home or on the jobsite, the first step in ladder safety is choosing the right ladder for the job. A good rule of thumb when choosing a ladder is calculating your maximum reach, which is approximately 4 feet higher than the height of the ladder.
The duty rating, or weight rating, should also never be ignored. Be sure to check the duty rating for your ladder and include the weight of tools and supplies in your calculation.
Next, plant your ladder firmly and securely on a level service and clear of any building materials or debris. Always climb up and down a ladder slowly to maximize safety, maintaining three points of contact with the ladder at all times.
Finally, stay within your reach keeping your body and center of gravity between the side rails. If you cannot reach an area safely, climb down and move the ladder to a safer vantage point.
For more ladder safety resources for home or work, visit the American Ladder Institute website. NAHB also has numerous free materials for members to use for both onboarding new employees and refreshers for current staff.
Visit the ladder safety page on nahb.org for videos and other materials in Spanish and English.