Hazard Alert: Ladders (2018)

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  CPWR--The Center for Construction Research and Training
• Description:
  Am I in Danger? If you use a ladder on a construction site, then the answer is YES. Falls are the leading cause of deaths and injuries in the construction industry. Each year, more than 4,000 construction workers are injured so seriously by ladder falls that they miss work. Each year, more than 70 construction workers die in falls from ladders. Electrocution Hazard Falls aren't the only way to get hurt on a ladder! Contact with overhead power lines can be fatal. Make sure your ladder is positioned at least 10 feet away from power lines. Aluminum conducts electricity. A fiberglass ladder is a better choice when working near electricity. To avoid a fall... 1) Inspect the ladder before every use: Inspect the rails, rungs, feet, and spreaders or rung locks for defects or damage every time you use a ladder. If you see any damage, tag it "do not use" and request another ladder in proper working order. Always check your ladder's duty rating to make sure it will support you and your toolbelt! 2) Position your ladder properly: For all ladders: Make sure you have a level, solid footing for your ladder. Position the ladder near your work to avoid overreaching. For extension ladders: Set the base one foot away from the building for every four feet of height. Tie off the ladder at the top - and bottom where possible! The minute you take to tie off could save your life. 3) Use the ladder safely: Maintain three-point contact with the ladder at all times: two hands and a foot or two feet and a hand. Do not use the top step/rung of a ladder unless it was designed for that purpose, or stand on the top three rungs of a straight, single, or extension ladder. Have a co-worker hold the ladder to steady it as you climb up and down. Always face the ladder when moving up or down. Do not carry tools and materials while climbing. Use a rope to haul or hoist materials to the upper level. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Accidental Falls Accidents Construction Industry Health Promotion Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Construction Workers Electrical Hazards Equipment Operation Falls Health Promotion Injury Prevention Ladders Safety Education
• Series:
  CPWR - Center for Construction Research and Training Publications
• Subseries:
  Hazard Alerts
• Publisher:
  CPWR-The Center for Construction Research and Training
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Report
• Place as Subject:
  Maryland ; OSHA Region 3
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1 pdf page
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20055051
• Citation:
  Silver Spring, MD: CPWR-The Center for Construction Research and Training, 2018 Apr; :1
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2018
• NORA Priority Area:
  Construction
• Performing Organization:
  CPWR - The Center for Construction Research and Training, Silver Spring, Maryland
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20090901
• Source Full Name:
  Hazard alert: ladders
• End Date:
  20240831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:49911da96191f0973fe3e548a04007b98ad5fa0e96ebb2f12d48ea1613c3206a4349269e000cfc6e413291d5e69b412be9bce26581f4d280718cbaf42fc5f8b3
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/212907/cdc_212907_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.14 MB ]