OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, sets the standards for ladder safety training.
Knowledge of ladder safety has become more important as the number of injuries from construction ladder accidents increases. In the United States, during a 16-year period ending in 2005, a study found that more than two million emergency room patients were there due to injuries sustained in stair accidents. In Canada, 300 people die each year in similar ladder accidents, while around 100,000 people sustain injuries serious enough to require medical treatment. Due to the number of injuries related to ladder accidents, safety experts believe that employers and employees would benefit from increased awareness of ladder safety, including proper placement, steps for use and maintenance.
Ladder safety is designed to reduce accidents in construction work.
According to OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, about 66 percent of injuries are caused by workers who have not received proper ladder safety training. The training includes the most appropriate ways to set up and use the ladder and related equipment, as well as specific maintenance steps, such as inspecting the equipment to ensure it is in good working order. OSHA Ladder Safety also sets standards for the proper way to safely secure a ladder. There are also safety regulations that dictate the distance between the rungs of a ladder, as well as the distance between the vertical sides. OSHA also recommends specific stair shapes and types of stair covers to prevent workers from slipping.
No matter how ladder accidents occur, the end result is often a permanent injury.
No matter how ladder accidents occur, the end result is often a permanent injury. Lack of knowledge about ladder safety often results in falls, with most injuries occurring to the lower extremities. Experts say that safety measures are also important for a person working on the ground under a ladder, because injuries have occurred as a result of falling objects.
In some cases, ladder workers are required to wear safety harnesses.
In the movies, it may seem funny when someone is caught off guard and knocks over a ladder while being carried by a co-worker, but in real life this type of accident can have serious medical consequences. Other types of accidents that can be prevented through ladder safety training include collisions with overhead power lines and tripping on misplaced ladders. The association recommends that employers adopt ladder safety policies that include proper use, maintenance and removal. Such policies would go a long way toward reducing stair accidents and fatalities, safety experts say.