Working above the ground level poses a safety hazard to workers and places them at a greater risk of falling. Falls can lead to serious injuries, such as contusions, strains, sprains, and fractures, and death. Ladders are important tools that workers use in the construction industry. When ladders are, however, used incorrectly, they can lead to falls that can cause injuries and fatalities. Falls from ladders represent one-third of all deaths in the construction industry each year.
The present paper examines falls from ladders by focusing on the existing data about the falls, the causes of the falls, and the corrective measures to prevent the falls.
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Ladder Falls Data
Nearly 50 per cent of all falls in the construction industry are from ladders (Socias, Chaumont, Collins & Simeonov, 2014). Among all the reported fatal falls between 2001 and 2011, 43 percent of them were due to ladder falls (Socias et al., 2014). 81 percent of all injuries related to falls among construction workers are due to ladder falls (Socias et al., 2014). Ladder fall injuries in 2011 led to 113 deaths or 0.09 deaths per 100,000 full-time workers, 15,460 non-fatal injuries that prevented workers from working for over a single day, and 34,000 non-fatal injuries managed in emergency rooms (Socias et al., 2014). Injuries from ladder falls are a public health hazard involving preventable injuries for construction workers (Socias et al., 2014).
Men and Hispanics experience a high rate of both deadly and non-fatal injuries than women and non-Hispanics and other workers from other groups (Socias et al., 2014). The rate of ladder fall injuries increases with age with the exception of injuries addressed in emergency rooms. The rate of death is high for independent workers than for salaried workers. The fatality rate for independent workers is 0.30 for every 100,000 workers while for salaried workers it is 0.06 for every 100,000 workers (Socias et al., 2014).
Firms with few workers experience high rates of death due to ladder falls while the construction industry experiences the highest rate of ladder fall injuries than all other sectors. The construction industry also experiences the highest rates of both fatal and non-fatal injuries due to ladder falls. Most deaths are caused by head injuries while most non-fatal injuries are caused by damages to the lower and upper extremities (Socias et al., 2014).
Causative Factors
Ladder falls mostly emerge due to issues related to the choice, care, or use of ladders. Ladder falls may be caused by accidentally slipping because of the failure of the worker to secure the top or bottom of the ladder correctly. Workers who wear slip flat shoes are at a greater risk of slipping and falling from ladders (OSHA, 2013).
Placing the ladder at a steeper or a shallower angle than the desired optimal angle can also lead to falls. Setting the angle of the ladder incorrectly can cause it to slide at the base during work and cause falls (OSHA, 2013). Improperly setting up the ladder on the ground, such as failing to ensure the ladder is placed on level ground and failing to secure it to ensure it reaches close to the landing location, can lead to falls (Ronk & Perry, 2010). Improperly securing the ladder may compel the worker to overreach it, which may lead to a fall. Improperly locking the adjusting catches can also lead to ladder falls from adjustable straight ladders (OSHA, 2013).
Failure to inspect the ladder before using it can lead to structural failure that can cause falls (OSHA, 2013). When workers do not check the ladders they use carefully, they will not be able to identify defects to ensure the structural integrity of the ladder (OSHA, 2013). Workers are unable to select ladders with the correct structural integrity due to their lack of understanding about proper ladders. Workers also do not have access to ladder safety checklists that can assist them to regularly inspect and maintain the structural integrity of ladders to prevent structural failures (OSHA, 2013).
Workers can also fall from ladders when they climb it with a single or both hands while carrying supplies or tools or when they climb above the ladder’s tipping point (OSHA, 2013).
Lack of training related to the proper use of extension ladders, particularly for small construction companies, also causes ladder falls. Workers in these companies cannot be reached easily, cannot access information related to safety, and cannot design safety plans due to inadequate resources (Ronk & Perry, 2010).
Corrective Measures
Ladder fall injuries can be avoided by training and educating workers regarding safety measures when working with ladders. Training and education should focus on ensuring that workers can identify ladder hazards, understand the proper procedures for raising, caring, and disassembling the fall-protection they use, understand the correct ladder use procedures during work, and understand the maximum load-carrying capacity of a ladder (OSHA, 2013).
Workers should also place the ladder correctly during work by ensuring that they face the operation they are engaging in and avoid forcing themselves to turn unsafely (OSHA, 2013). They should also ensure that they are on a lower rung when working.
Workers should also avoid unsafe ladder postures, such as standing on the top ladder step. If the intended location to be reached is high, it is advisable to use a tall ladder to safely access the area instead of using a short ladder that would compel the worker to use the top step (Ronk & Perry, 2010).
The ladder should also be secured correctly both at the bottom and at the top to prevent falls when climbing the ladder. The worker should ensure that the platform for accessing the ladder top is ample for moving and standing safely (Ronk & Perry, 2010).
The ladder should also be placed correctly by extending it out while ensuring that its spreaders are locked (OSHA, 2013). For small working areas, a suitable alternative should be used instead of using a ladder incorrectly in that area.
Extension ladders should spread by a minimum of three feet past the roof to ensure that the worker stands on the correct rung (Ronk & Perry, 2010).
Other corrective measures include inspecting the ladder before using it and only use safe ladders, ensuring that the feet of the ladder works correctly and has slip-resistant pads, setting the ladder in safe locations with a strong level footing and support for the top of the ladder, using three points of contact when climbing a ladder by ensuring that both feet and one hand or one foot and both hands touch the ladder, avoiding carrying loads that may lead to imbalances, and avoiding sudden moves on ladders that could lead to slips (OSHA, 2013).
Conclusion
Most recorded falls in the construction industry are related to ladders. These falls lead to both fatal and non-fatal injuries, even though it is possible to avoid them. Workers can avoid these falls by complying with the safety measures recommended by safety organizations and by learning about the correct procedures when dealing with ladders. Construction companies can also help workers avoid these falls by educating and training them about the various safety measures related to ladders.
References
OSHA. (2013). Falling off ladders can kill: Use them safely = Las caídas desde escaleras pueden ser mortales: Úselas de forma segura . Washington, D.C.: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.
Ronk, C., & Perry, M. (2010). Preventing Falls from Ladders in Construction: A Guide to Training Site Supervisors. Retrieved December 23, 2018, from http://elcosh.org/document/2079/d001094/preventing-falls-from-ladders-in-construction:- a-guide-to-training-site-supervisors.html
Socias, C. M., Chaumont, C. M., Collins, J. W., & Simeonov, P. (2014). Occupational ladder fall injuries-United States, 2011. MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report , 63 (16), 341-346.
