Carpenter’s death highlights the importance of ladder safety

Posted March 12, 2024

Over 100 people die in ladder-related accidents every year, while thousands more suffer disabling injuries, and the death of a carpenter in August 2023 highlights the importance of ladder safety.

While standing on the fourth rung from the bottom of a ladder, the carpenter held one end of a measuring tape and reached beyond the ladder’s side to get a measurement. The ladder fell as a result of this movement, causing the carpenter to fall 46 inches to the concrete floor. The carpenter suffered head and neck injuries in the fall and died three days later.

During National Ladder Safety Month, which takes place every March, the American Ladder Institute (ALI) promotes ladder safety to decrease the number of ladder-related injuries and fatalities.

This year’s program focuses on four themes:

• Week One: Training and awareness;
• Week Two: Inspection and maintenance;
• Week Three: Stabilization, setup, and accessories; and
• Week Four: Safe climbing and positioning.

Additional information about National Ladder Safety Month can be found at laddersafetymonth.com.

This article was written by Carmen King of J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.