Every year over 100 people die in ladder-related accidents, and thousands suffer disabling injuries. Join the American Ladder Institute (ALI) and participate in National Ladder Safety Month in March. This important month was designed to raise awareness of ladder safety and to decrease the number of ladder-related injuries and fatalities.
It is important to follow these safety rules while working on a ladder
This is one of the most common mistakes. Choosing a ladder that is too long or too short is unsafe.
If you feel the need to stand on the top cap of your ladder to reach your project, you are not using the right ladder for the job. Standing on the top step, top cap, or straddling the top of the ladder is very dangerous and can lead to a loss of balance.
When working at the top of a ladder, just as you do while you are climbing, it is important to maintain three points of contact with the ladder. When working, this typically means having both feet firmly planted on the ladder, with a hand or your knees resting on the ladder for stability.
When you don't maintain three points of contact, you are more likely to overreach. When you overreach, your ladder is more likely to lose balance. You should always keep the center of your stomach between the ladder side rails.
ALI believes ladder accidents are preventable with thorough safety planning, training, and continuous innovation in product design. The more people, organizations, and businesses get involved, the wider the message spreads, and the more people learn about proper ladder safety.
ALI, the only approved developer of safety standards for the U.S. ladder industry, is the presenting sponsor for National Ladder Safety Month.