This March is National Ladder Safety Month, an initiative designed to highlight the importance of proper ladder selection and to promote the safe use of ladders. The month-long campaign is spearheaded by the American Ladder Institute and provides information, training materials and other resources to help educate people about the importance of ladder safety.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has noted a small decrease in year-over-year workplace fatalities due to ladder incidents, but falls from ladders still kill hundreds of people and cause over half a million injuries annually. And while construction and maintenance jobs have a higher portion of ladder-related issues, ladder injuries can occur in any workplace—and in any home, as ladders are one of the major causes of off-the-job injuries.

This means that safety managers in any industry are justified in reminding employees about the safe use of ladders both on and off the job. Here are a range of issues, considerations and resources to help EHS professionals craft a compelling case for ladder safety.

Causes of ladder incidents

Ladder-related incidents can be caused by a number of issues, including:

• Setting up an extension ladder incorrectly, usually by having it at an incorrect angle
• Using a damaged ladder
• Choosing the wrong type of ladder for the job
• Reaching too far while on a ladder, standing on the top cap, carrying too much on a ladder or otherwise working unsafely on a ladder

Additional risky elements—like slippery rungs or human factors—can also lead to ladder injuries. Reviewing these causes with workers in a safety meeting or toolbox talk is an effective way to remind them about the hazards of using a ladder.

Ladder safety tips

Reminding workers of what not to do on a ladder is a good start, but it’s also important to emphasize the right way to work with, on and around ladders by providing some key ladder safety tips.

Keeping these best practices relatable is important. The contents of any ladder safety conversation should account for the type of work that happens at your facility and the overall safety climate in the workplace, as well as any previous training that employees have received about ladders and working at heights. Workers will be more receptive to ladder tips if they are relevant to familiar situations.

With that said, here are some essential components of any ladder safety initiative. These can be used as talking points during informal conversations with workers or they can act as rungs in a more structured safety presentation.

Choosing the right ladder

• Deciding between extension ladders, platform ladders and step ladders.
• Choosing a fiberglass or aluminum ladder.
• Knowing the weight rating of the ladder.

Ladder inspection

• Checking for cracks, wiggly or loose rungs, or damage to rails.
• Confirming the feet are secure.
• Double-checking the locks and spreaders are properly engaged.
• Focusing on how complacency can cause people to skip inspections.

Ladder setup

• Making sure ladders are on level ground and stable.
• Fully opening and locking spreaders.
• Following the 4-to-1 rule for leaning ladders: for every four feet of distance between the ground and the upper point of contact, the base of the ladder should be moved one foot out from the wall.
• Extending at least three feet above the landing area.
• Securing the ladder whenever it’s possible to do so.

Climbing ladders safely

• Using three points of contact.
• Facing the ladder.
• Carrying tools in a belt rather than holding them.

Safe ladder use

• Never overreaching.
• Avoiding the use of too much force.
• Adhering to the ladder’s weight rating.
• Monitoring environmental conditions like wind and rain.

Because ladders are such a common piece of equipment at work and around the house, many people feel like they have ladder safety down pat. And that’s why it’s so important to remind folks of these basic components of ladder safety: a high degree of comfort means that it’s easy to forget crucial safety issues.

You may also want to highlight safety considerations that are easy for even experienced ladder users to overlook, such as the importance of paying attention to power lines. And it’s worth pointing out the many distractions that could put people at risk when they work on DIY projects around the house, as well as the way that human factors like rushing or fatigue could further contribute to ladder-related injuries.

Ladder safety resources

If you need more than the basic ladder safety points outlined above, there are several great free resources for your consideration.

To mark this year’s National Ladder Safety Month, the American Ladder Institute is giving away a free ladder safety training course. It’s a great option for safety professionals who want to give employees a trustworthy plug-and-play learning opportunity that they can access on their own time.

There’s also an in-depth safety guide to working at heights that can take employees’ thinking on ladder safety to the next level. It goes beyond the basics of ladder safety and fall protection to delve into considerations like human factors, which have a surprisingly large influence on injuries when people are working on ladders or platforms.

In the end, the biggest factor in ladder safety is an employee’s individual sense of safety awareness. Use these talking points and resources to remind people about the steps they need to take to keep themselves safe every time they use a ladder.