FACTS

Primary hazards and types of injuries associated with ladder use in landscaping.

Hazards and Types of Injuries

1. Falls from Height

• • Improper Ladder Use: Many injuries occur due to improper ladder use, such as using the wrong type of ladder, not securing the ladder properly, or overreaching while on the ladder.
  • Unstable Surfaces: Placing ladders on uneven or unstable surfaces increases the risk of falls.

2. Structural Failure

• • Damaged Equipment: Using damaged ladders can lead to structural failure.
  • Overloading: Exceeding the ladder’s weight capacity leads to structural failure.

3. Electrical Hazards

• • Contact with Power Lines: Aluminum ladders, in particular, can conduct electricity, posing a significant hazard if they come into contact with live wires.

4. Musculoskeletal Injuries

• • Repetitive Strain: Climbing and descending ladders can lead to repetitive strain injuries.
  • Carrying Heavy Loads: Carrying tools or materials while climbing ladders can strain muscles.

5. Slip and Fall Hazards

• • Wet or Icy Rungs: Ladders in wet or icy conditions can become slippery, increasing the risk of slipping and falling.

STATS

• Each year, there are more than 164,000 emergency room-treated injuries and approximately 300 deaths caused by falls from ladders in the USA.
• Falls from ladders account for about 20% of all fall injuries, making them a major contributor to fall-related incidents in various industries, including landscaping.
• Among landscape workers, an estimated 81% of fall injuries treated in hospital emergency rooms involve a ladder. Additionally, nearly two-fifths of work-related fatal falls involve falls from roofs or ladders.
• In Ontario Canada alone, approximately 8,300 individuals sought emergency medical care following ladder falls in one year, with 1,231 requiring overnight hospitalization due to their injuries.
• Ladders are involved in about 2% of all occupational accidents in industrialized countries, indicating that approximately one in every 2000 workers will experience a serious injury related to ladder use each year.