March 2026 is the tenth annual celebration of National Ladder Safety Month. This event is sponsored by the American Ladder Institute (ALI) to raise awareness about ladder safety and to decrease the number of ladder-related injuries and fatalities both at home and in the workplace. Violations related to improper ladder use consistently rank high among the top 10 most frequently cited Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards [29 CFR 1910.23].
In addition to the high number of OSHA citations (2,405 in fiscal year 2025 based on preliminary data), every year there are more than 300 fatalities due to ladder-related accidents and thousands of debilitating injuries. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), on average, 500,000 people are treated for ladder-related injuries each year.
Not only are the goals of National Ladder Safety Month to raise ladder safety awareness and lower the number of injuries and fatalities, but the ALI also wants to increase the number of people certified in ladder safety training and to try and get ladder-related safety violations off OSHA’s top 10 list, or at least lower the ranking.
The focus of this year’s campaign is on the following themes:
- Choosing the Right Ladder (Week 1): One of the most common mistakes made by ladder users is choosing the wrong ladder for the job. Some things to consider include the work environment (e.g., the work surface, potential sources of electricity, and climbing obstructions); appropriate ladder length; and the duty rating, which is the total amount of weight the ladder will support. Only Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) approved ladders (that carry the UL seal) should be used.
- Check Before You Climb (Week 2): Before using a ladder, it should be thoroughly inspected to ensure it’s in good working condition including the rails, steps and rungs, ropes and pulleys, locks, and spreader braces. Ladder feet and climbing and gripper surfaces should be cleaned. The use of an inspection checklist is recommended so that nothing is missed. In addition, manufacturer approved replacement parts must always be used.
- Set It Up Safely (Week 3): A stable ladder must be established and maintained for all work activities. This may be as simple as having someone hold/foot the ladder and/or require other practices such as blocking, bracing, or tying off. Possible set-up hazards need to be addressed such as the ground not being firm and/or level, necessitating the use of a ladder level accessory. In addition, slippery surface conditions may require the use of spiked feet. The ladder should be facing the work (when possible) and positioned near it to avoid overreaching. Extension ladders must have all four rails supported (feet and end caps) on firm supports and a 75° set-up angle maintained during use to avoid ladder slide-out.
- Climb Safety, Work Safely (Week 4): Safe climbing must always be practiced by being attentive to both the work and the surroundings, and by climbing slowly and deliberately while avoiding sudden movements. The ladder user should always be facing it while ascending or descending. Towlines, a tool belt, or an assistant should be used to convey materials so that both hands are free when climbing. While working on the ladder, the top step or top cap should not be stood on. If it’s necessary to do so, the wrong size ladder is probably being used! Three points of contact with the steps, rungs and/or sides must be maintained with the ladder while climbing, descending, and working. This means either two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand must be in contact with the ladder at all times.
- Safe Steps with Steps Tools (Week 5): Ladder-type step stools require level ground support for all four of the side rails. They must not be used unless the base is spread fully open and the spreaders are locked. To prevent tipping the step stool over sideways due to over-reaching, the user must climb or work near the middle of the steps, and it should be positioned as close to the work as possible. A step stool (or ladder) must never be placed on other objects such as boxes, barrels, scaffolds, or other unstable bases to obtain additional height.
The ALI believes ladder accidents are preventable with proper safety planning, training, and continuous improvement in product design. They ask for everyone’s help in bringing awareness to the importance of safe ladder use through training and resources including ALI flyers, videos, and OSHA publications, as well as by having a national dialogue on this crucial topic.
Safety Partners can help with developing a Ladder Safety Program and conducting related training at your workplace. We have recently expanded our services to include many aspects of industrial safety. In addition to ladder safety, they include technical and advisory support for operations involving lockout tagout (LOTO), confined space entry, and powered industrial vehicles (PIV). Contact us to learn more!
This blog was written by Beth Graham, Safety Partners’ Director of Quality, Research, and Training.
