If someone were to ask you what the most common cause for personal injury was, what would you say? Many of us know that falling is the most common cause, and the CDC confirms that. In fact in one study they came to the conclusion that falls were the leading cause of deaths in the US, and that about half of those falls happened off of a ladder.
At an elevation of about 6 feet or more, the risk for serious injury or death is very high. You need to be safety conscious if you are to use a ladder, and even though it is a very simple concept, there are quite a few things to keep in mind to make sure that you are safe.
It is especially dangerous to use a ladder if you are rushed. You should only step up one rung at a time. There is nothing that is important enough for you to risk your life. You should never extend your arm to the sides of the ladder to reach something. Even though it will take a lot more time, you should go down and move the ladder over instead.
Always keep at least 3 points of contact with the ladder, and make sure that it is situated on even, firm ground.
