Ladder-Related Injuries

Ladder safety is important in any type of setting, at work and at home, where one can be used. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, one of the leading causes of occupational injuries and fatalities is ladder accidents. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) states that over 164,000 people are seen in emergency rooms each year because of ladder injuries.

Broken Bones

• Most broken bones because of ladder injuries are caused by falls. When standing on a ladder, wearing slippery shoes, reaching too far or not using the correct ladder for the job makes it possible for the person to fall resulting in broken bones. Broken bones can include arms and legs as well as more serious spinal and neck bones.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

• Slipping while climbing a ladder or falling from high rungs can cause a traumatic brain injury (TBI). This occurs when someone using a ladder falls and hits his head on the ground or another hard object causing injury or bleeding on the brain. Symptoms of a TBI are blurred vision, headache, ringing in the ears and confusion. A TBI is a serious ladder injury and should be treated immediately and a visit to the emergency room should be considered.

Electrical Shock

• Metal ladders pose a risk for electrical shock. Aluminum, a material commonly used in ladders, is an electrical conductor. In the event of a live wire contact, bodies can complete an electrical circuit starting at the power source, through the ladder and then to the ground, according to the American Ladder Institute. Using an aluminum ladder while changing a light bulb or working around an electrical box can result in serious injury or death considering electrical shock causes hearts to stop, making a fall probable.