By Trish Svoboda/Images courtesy of the American Ladder Institute
March is recognized as National Ladder Safety Month, a campaign aimed at reducing preventable ladder-related injuries through education and awareness.
The effort is led by the American Ladder Institute (ALI), a nonprofit organization made up of ladder manufacturers, component manufacturers, and safety professionals. The group works to improve ladder safety through training, public education, and the development of industry safety standards.
According to Pat McAuliffe, Vice President on the Board of Directors, many ladder accidents happen because of simple mistakes. “People tend to rush,” he said. “They might grab the wrong ladder for the job, skip inspecting it, or fail to set it up properly.”
He said that training programs encourage users to slow down and ask a few basic questions before climbing: Is this the right ladder for the job? Is it in good condition? Is it set up correctly? “Building that pause into someone’s routine eliminates a huge percentage of incidents.”
McAuliffe said the most common ladder injuries involve falls. These often occur when ladders are placed on uneven ground, positioned incorrectly, or when users overreach instead of climbing down and repositioning the ladder. Carrying tools while climbing can also create hazards because it prevents maintaining three points of contact. “You always want to maintain three points of contact when you’re climbing a ladder.”
Safety training also helps workers and homeowners recognize habits they may have developed over time. Many participants report they didn’t realize how many unsafe shortcuts they were taking until they completed the training. “We have a lot of things on our website – posters, checklists, toolbox talks – that are ready to go and easy to use. We want to make it easy for companies and users to train and be safe on ladders.”
For homeowners, McAuliffe recommends choosing the right ladder for the task. Height and weight ratings should be considered, especially if tools or equipment will be carried while climbing. Extension ladders are typically best for outdoor jobs like cleaning gutters, while step ladders work well for indoor tasks such as changing light bulbs. “Think about where you’ll use it. For outdoor work or uneven surfaces, you might need a level or a stabilizer,” he said. “Even for step stools in the kitchen or garage, make sure it’s sturdy, in good condition and used on a flat surface.”
Free ladder safety resources, including checklists and training materials, are available at LadderMonth.com.
