Ladder Safety Month Raises Awareness of Fall Hazards on the Job
We all have a different level of comfort and experience when it comes to using ladders at home and at work. While some people nimbly race up a ladder to put up their Christmas lights in the winter or to fix an electric line on the job, others are less inclined to crawl to heights, and would rather stay safely on the ground. Regardless of how comfortable we may be with ladders, however, there is no doubt that they can be extremely dangerous, and ladder-related accidents can lead to serious injury and even death, in some cases. Due to the dangerous nature of ladders for those both experienced and not-so-experienced, March has been coined “Ladder Safety Month”. To help ring in the month and spread ladder safety awareness to Louisiana workers, we provide some helpful information about ladder safety from the National Safety Council (NSC) here.
How Dangerous are Ladder Accidents? The Numbers tell a Shocking Story
When it comes to the statistics on ladder accidents, the numbers may shock the average Louisiana worker. In the United States in 2021 alone, there were a total of 44,686 ladder deaths at both home and at work. Furthermore, in some industries, ladder-related falls are the number one cause of workplace deaths. When it comes to workplace ladder deaths, in 2021, 850 workers were killed in fall accidents at work, and hundreds of thousands were injured by fall accidents to the extent that they had to call out of work. Although, according to the NSC, construction workers are most at risk of being involved in fatal fall accidents on the job, “falls can happen anywhere, even at a ‘desk job’”.
Fall Accidents, “Par for the Course” in the Workplace, or Preventable?
One question that both Louisiana employers and workers may wonder is just how can fall accidents be prevented in the workplace? The truth of the matter, according to the NSC, is that fall accidents in the workplace are 100% preventable, and workers and employers can take steps to keep workers safe from serious injuries due to falls. In order to prevent fall accidents and deaths from falls in the workplace, the NSC first advises that workers determine whether working from a height is absolutely necessary to do the task at hand, and to only engage in working at heights if there is no other way to complete the work task in another way not from a height. If the work must be performed at heights, the NSC recommends that workers make sure that they are properly trained how to use a ladder and consult with coworkers regarding all the necessary equipment that is required to do the task. The NSC notes that ladders should always be placed on a solid surface and that “a straight or extension ladder should be 1 foot away from the surface it rests on for every 4 feet of height and extend at least 3 feet over the top edge.”
Legal Help for Louisiana Workers Injured on the Job
If you were injured on the job in Louisiana, it is important to learn about your rights and options to Louisiana workers’ compensation benefits. Reach out to the experienced Louisiana workers’ compensation lawyers at Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC for a free and confidential consultation and learn about your rights. Contact Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC today and speak to a lawyer about your case for free.
