Ladder-Related Injury Numbers Convince Employers to Restrict Use

Companies are increasingly restricting the use of ladders in an effort to reduce the rising toll of injuries and deaths from falls, while the industry responds with innovative design changes.

The number of ladder-related deaths and injuries have increased at a faster pace than other on-the-job fatalities and injuries, so many employers are instituting voluntary initiatives—sometimes called “ladders last”—that can require workers to get written permission from supervisors before they step onto portable ladders or to find an alternative.

The solutions could come with a cost to employers, particularly if new equipment is required, but advocates say the payoff will ...