As identified by OSHA, construction fatalities increased significantly over the past decade. The reason behind the high number of hazards is in a growing number of building projects. Construction accidents are the highest among all the industries for several reasons, such as unsafe working conditions, countless violations of safe codes, etcetera. According to the OSHA, falls are the leading cause of the construction-worker deaths (36.5% of all passing, which occurred in the workplace) (OSHA 2020). Among the fatal falls, ladder falls occur almost as often as the road accidents involving heavy trucks.
Unfortunately, ladder falls are a leading cause of accidental fatal injuries across the country. A recent OSHA study has found that about half of lethal falls involve a ladder (OSHA 2020). As for the construction workers’ statistic says, that more than half of deadly slips involved a ladder. The same research also stated that fatal falls include head injuries—the death rate increases with the age of a worker and the small sizing of a company (OSHA 2020). The reason behind such horrible numbers is the neglect of safety rules such as the lack of protection, old or worn tools, lack of safety training by the professionals, etc.
Neglecting of safety rules is the most common cause of fatal falls, which include ladders. The causes of these injuries are preventable, even though they are ubiquitous. Ladder accidents can occur for a plethora of reasons; however, the following ones are the most widespread. The first one is selecting the wrong type of ladder, which stems from the lack of understanding of essential tools. The most common scenario is when a person chooses a ladder with a small weight capacity without a second look onto it (Miu et al. 2016). Suppose the worker accidentally exceeds the special-set weight limit of a ladder. In that case, it can break in the middle of the construction works and cause a person’s significant injuries or death, depending on the fall. Another reason is choosing the wrong height of a ladder. When an instrument proves to be too short for the required task, it can cause a lot of damage to the user.
Furthermore, another common mistake, contributing to the increase in fatal falls from ladders, is the use of old or damaged ones. Although this is a common way to save a considerable amount of money in a small organization, it causes lots of death from accidents. Like any other tool, ladders have a span of life; they can break if they become too old (Miu et al. 2016). The damaged or worn ladder is a different story because although they are not aged, they are still unusable. The greed of some organizations can be the cause of many traumatic events occurring because of unusable ladders. Workers, trusting their employers, also do not inspect their tools thoroughly, and that is why some of them pay for that mistake with their lives.
The most common cause of ladder accidents is the incorrect use of them. Sometimes, workers try to do unnecessary things with a practical tool: lengthen it, neglect the rules of correct usage, attempt to reach something far away while on the ladder, etc (Miu et al. 2016). The reason, which directly relates to the listed is incorrect placement of a tool. To ensure that the working space is safe, one needs to position the ladder according to the standards. Standard means making sure that the ladder is not in front of a door; it is not blocking anything, etc. A reasonable means of safety is to have a helper nearby for insurance.
Measures that proved to be effective in correcting the death rates are always inspecting a ladder before usage. This proves to be effective in detecting malfunctioning tools before the actual use to prevent possible damage. It would be better to write ‘not safe for use’ on the ladder to ensure that no one else uses it (Miu et al. 2016). Moreover, it is better to position the ladder properly before using it. Stable positioning proves to be highly effective in preventing lethal accidents in the workplace, and that is why it is essential not to neglect that rule (Construction Week 2019). Never stand on the highest point of the ladder, because it is the most unstable point when it is hard to balance. Always have a partner nearby, because having a partner would reduce one’s chances of falling on the ground. What is more, one needs to ensure that the ladder can support one’s weight, and it is of the required height.
To conclude, one needs to know the required safety measures before using such a tool as a ladder. Construction fatalities, which include ladders, increased significantly over the past decade, so one has to follow the guidelines. For the reason that the incorrect usage of ladders is the leading cause of lethal accidents in the workplace, one should not neglect common sense when using one. First of all, one needs always to examine the ladder to detect faults, check its weight capacity, place the ladder correctly, and make sure that there is still a helper nearby.
References
Miu, J., Dinh, M., Curtis, K. & Balogh, Z. (2016). Ladder-related injuries in New South Wales. Medical Journal of Australia, 204(8), 302-302. Web.
OSHA’s most frequently violated standards: Ladders 1926.1053: Ladders 1926.1053 was the sixth most-frequently cited agency standard in FY 2019. (2020, January 1). Industrial Safety & Hygiene News, 54(1).
Top causes of global construction fatalities, and how to avoid site risks. (2019). Construction Week.