Ladder Safety Stats & Facts

FACTS

1. Falls from ladders are the leading cause of deaths on construction sites.
2. Over the past decade, the number of people who have died from falls from ladders has tripled.
3. Falls from ladders are the leading cause of ladder-related injuries, followed by using a ladder improperly, using a faulty or defective ladder, and simple carelessness.
4. Ladders are available in many forms ranging from: attic ladders, orchard ladders, and roof ladders to sectional ladders, cat ladders, Christmas tree ladders,
5. There are 4 main types of ladder injuries. These include injuries related to: selecting the wrong type of ladder, using worn/damaged ladders, using ladders incorrectly, and placing ladders incorrectly.

STATS

• According to the World Health Organization, the United States leads the world in ladder deaths. Each year, there are more than 164,000 emergency room-treated injuries and 300 deaths in the U.S. that are caused by falls from ladders.
• Most ladder deaths are from falls of 10 feet or less.
• More than 500,000 people receive emergency room treatment from ladder-related injuries every year.
• More than 300 of these falls end up being fatal.
• According the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 50% of all ladder-related accidents were due to individuals carrying items as they climbed.
• Over the last 10 years the amount of ladder-related injuries has increased 50%.
• OSHA believes 100% of all ladder accidents could be prevented if proper attention to equipment and climber training were provided.
• These deaths account for 15% of all occupational deaths.
• Elevated falls account for almost 700 occupational deaths annually.
• More than 90,000 people receive emergency room treatment from ladder-related injuries every year.
• The most common type of ladder-related injury, with 32%, is fractures.
• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, at least 50 percent of ladder-related accidents were due to individuals carrying items while they climbed. Additionally, each year, more than 900,000 people receive emergency room treatment from ladder-related injuries.