The ladder is one of the construction industry's mainstay pieces of equipment. Ladders allow workers to access hard-to-reach areas of a construction zone safely and efficiently. However, if used incorrectly or not properly maintained, ladders can pose a grave danger to workers. In fact, ladder accidents from improper ladder use result in 164,000 emergency room visits each year in the United States.
According to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) ladder rules, employers must provide stairways or ladders for employees if there is a break in elevation of 19 inches or more and no other way to avoid or pass through the break. OSHA guidelines state that employers must provide ladders that are free from defect or disrepair, free from grease that would cause a slip, secured when in a passageway or a busy part of the construction zone, and used for their designated purpose.
Failure to follow these guidelines puts construction workers in danger. If a worker is injured in a construction accident involving a defective ladder, his or her employer may be liable for the accident.
Preventing Accidents Involving Defective Ladders
To ensure that a defective or damaged ladder is not used at the workplace, employers should regularly check ladders for defects or damage.
First, employers should evaluate the structural integrity of the ladder. Ladders with broken or split rungs or side rails, or ladders with cracks or bends in any part of the structure should not be used, since these types of issues weaken the structure of the ladder, which could lead to a ladder accident. Employers should also check to see if the ladder's hardware is in proper working order, if paint is covering up any aforementioned defects and if oil or grease is present on the ladder's rungs (which could cause an employee to slip and fall).
Second, employers should check the ladder's labels for intended use and weight limit before allowing it to be used in a work zone. Employers should inform employees of the weight limit for company-owned ladders and warn workers not to carry things on a ladder that may affect their balance.
Last, employers should monitor for and discourage the tying of ladders together. This is a dangerous practice for which no ladder is designed. If two ladders are needed, employers should separate the two ladders with a landing.
Following these safety tips will help employers comply with OSHA rules, but more importantly, it will keep their workers safe on the job. If you or a loved one has been involved in a ladder-related work accident, please seek the advice of an experienced New York ladder accident attorney.
