FACTS

Ladder safety in the hospitality industry is crucial to prevent accidents and ensure the safety of employees and guests. Here are some facts related to ladder use in hospitality settings:

1. Improper Ladder Selection: Using ladders that are too short, leading to overreaching, or too long, causing stability issues, can result in falls and injuries.
2. Lack of Inspection: Failing to inspect ladders for defects like broken rungs, loose screws, or cracked side rails before use can lead to accidents.
3. Incorrect Ladder Placement: Setting up ladders on uneven surfaces or without securing them properly can cause the ladder to slip or tip over.
4. Improper Climbing Posture: Not maintaining three points of contact (two hands and one foot or two feet and one hand) on the ladder at all times increases the risk of falls.
5. Carrying Tools and Materials: Carrying items up or down a ladder can cause imbalance and lead to falls. It’s safer to use a tool belt or hoist materials.
6. Overreaching or Leaning Too Far: Reaching too far from the ladder can cause it to tip over. Workers should keep their waist between the side rails.
7. Using Ladders in High-Traffic Areas: Setting up ladders where they can be bumped by guests or other employees can lead to destabilization and falls.
8. Electrical Hazards: Using metal ladders near electrical equipment or lines can result in electrocution.
9. Lack of Training: Employees not trained in proper ladder use and safety protocols are more likely to have accidents.

STATS

• Each year there are more than 164,000 emergency room-treated injuries in the United States relating to ladders. Of course, not all these injuries occur in or at hotels and resorts, but many do.
• In 2020, there were approximately 161 fatalities and 22,710 injuries reported due to ladder incidents. Ladder violations are significant concerns, with 2,143 total violations recorded in 2022, emphasizing the need for strict adherence to safety protocols.
• In the United States more than 500,000 people a year are treated for ladder-related injuries, and that number does not include people who suffered injuries but did not go to a medical care provider for treatment.
• About 300 people in the United States die from ladder-related injuries annually. In Canada, ladders account for 2% of all occupational accidents.