March is Ladder Safety Month

Every year over 100 people die in ladder-related accidents, and thousands suffer disabling injuries. National Ladder Safety Month is designed to raise awareness and to decrease the number of ladder-related injuries and fatalities. It’s a great time to refresh staff on this valuable safety topic.

Ladder Inspection

Being proactive about inspecting ladders should be at the top of the list. Faulty ladders can make a difficult job even more dangerous but conducting a daily pre-use inspection and a thorough, weekly inspection will help eliminate the potential for a severe incident. A few helpful reminders are:

  • Provide a daily/weekly inspection checklist.
  • Remove any faulty ladders from use, especially around any areas where workers might accidentally grab them.
  • Teach how to properly inspect a ladder during ladder training.

Specific areas of a ladder to inspect and conditions to look for are:

  • Ladder rungs/steps
  • Ladder bolts, screws, attachments
  • Rust or decay
  • Weakened or damaged areas
  • Cracks or splits
  • Twisted rails
  • Viewable instructions/safety stickers
  • Attached ladder parts/accessories

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