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Take the Right Steps During Ladder Safety Month

By Chris Gray
werner-leansafe-demo
March 12, 2020

Accidents are bound to happen, but in roofing, these otherwise preventable accidents can have dire consequences. It’s why work-related fatality rates for roofers are more than 10 times the national average.

Falls continue to be a leading cause of accidents in the roofing industry. With March being National Ladder Safety Month, now is a perfect time to brush up on proper ladder usage to prevent fall and ladder-related accidents.

According to the American Ladder Institute (ALI), there are a few common mistakes workers make when using a ladder. They are:

  • Disregarding weight ratings. Your weight may not have fluctuated much over the years, but what the scale says isn’t the only thing a ladder is bearing. Combine the weight of any tools, clothing and other equipment you’re carrying along with your weight before selecting what ladder to use.
  • Taller ladders mean more weight. Simply put, a taller ladder doesn’t mean it has a higher weight rating. If you’re carrying heavy items on a ladder, check its duty rating first. This is the total amount of weight a ladder can support.
  • Not worrying about ladder safety. It’s just a ladder, everyone knows how to use one, right? Wrong. Ladder safety is a must in roofing. Not only are falls from height the third most common disabling workplace injury, but 75.7% of respondents to an ALI survey believed ladder safety training could have prevented ladder accidents.

Falls aren’t the only concern of using a ladder. Being mindful of surroundings is just as important for preventing injuries. Recently, two Canadian roofers were sent to the hospital when their ladder grazed a power line. In September 2018, a 16-year-old male roofer died as a result of electrocution after hitting a power line with an extended 25-foot ladder.

Werner Ladder, one of the biggest manufacturers of climbing products and fall protection equipment, is once again sponsoring National Ladder Safety Month. Each week will focus on a different aspect of using ladders:

  • March 1-7: Ladder Safety Trainings and Year Round Partners
  • March 8-14: Ladder Safety at Work
  • March 15-21: Ladder Safety at Home
  • March 22-28: Ladder Inspection and Disposal

To help prevent future accidents, Werner Ladder is offering free online training, safety videos, sharing ladder safety tips through digital outreach, and offering a free safety training or product demo.

Additionally, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provides a number of tips on using ladders on its website. These include maintaining a three-point contact on the ladder (two hands and a foot, or two feet and a hand) and not using the top rung/step of a ladder as a step/rung unless it was designed for that purpose.

Companies like Werner are continuing to create products that enhance ladder safety, like the LEANSAFE X3 multi-purpose ladder. Meanwhile, the Sten Step — created by a general contractor — allows workers to safely navigate extension ladders by eliminating the offset.

Once you’ve studied up, take our ladder safety quiz to test your ladder know-how!

KEYWORDS: ALI (American Ladder Institute) fall prevention jobsite safety ladder safety ladders OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) WernerCo

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Chrisgray
Chris Gray is the editor of Roofing Contractor and Roofing Supply Pro. He has worked in the fields of journalism and copywriting for nearly 20 years, ranging from local print newspapers to the multi-media promotion of international artists.


Reach him at 248-244-6498 or grayc@bnpmedia.com.

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