Ladder falls in the workplace are incredibly common and have the potential to cause severe injury and even death. In fact, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) considers falls, including from ladders, to be one of the four main causes of injury in construction.

Understanding what commonly causes ladder falls is important in implementing effective safety practices and ensuring the safety of employees. In this article, we will explore what commonly causes falls from ladders in the workplace and what can be done to prevent them from happening.

Lack of Proper Inspection

Just like any other piece of equipment or machinery that a worker may operate, regular inspection and maintenance of the ladders you are using is crucial. Regularly inspecting ladders will help to ensure that they are in optimal working condition and that there is no potential for danger.

A worker should check for missing parts, bent rungs, dysfunctional locks, any sign of instability, as well as general wear and tear each time before they use a ladder. Additionally, one should take into account whether they are working near live wires, which requires a non-conductive ladder.

This seemingly simple task is an essential part of ensuring ladder safety. If you have been injured in a ladder accident, be sure to contact a workplace injury attorney in Los Angeles to learn about what your legal options are.

Using the Wrong Ladder

Another error that commonly leads to ladder falls in the workplace is using the wrong type of ladder for the task at hand. Before choosing which ladder to use, you will want to consider things such as height, weight capacity, and what work will need to be completed.

For example, it wouldn’t make sense to choose a 50-foot ladder when you only need to climb 10 feet high to complete the job. Choosing the wrong ladder can lead to workers overreaching, being unable to reach, or being left with inadequate fall protection.

Incorrect Positioning

Another reason that workers commonly fall from ladders is incorrect setup. It is essential that a ladder is set up on a stable, even surface, as failure to do so may cause the ladder to tip over or wobble while in use.

In addition, ladders must be positioned at the correct angle. For optimal positioning, the base of the ladder should be one foot away from the wall for each four feet of ladder height.

Climbing Mistakes

A final cause of ladder falls in the workplace is climbing mistakes by the worker. When climbing a ladder it is important that workers climb them correctly to ensure their safety, particularly given that they are often working from tall heights. Workers should be sure to always face the ladder and not skip any rungs while climbing.

In addition, workers should maintain at least three points of contact with the ladder at all times, whether that be two hands and one foot or two feet and one hand. It is important that employers provide adequate training about how to properly use ladders as well.