Probability of a Ladder Fall Injury

Ladder-related injuries account for approximately 500,000 emergency department visits and about 300 deaths per year in the United States. Ladders are the leading cause of fall-from-height injuries and the most commonly cited piece of equipment in workplace fall fatalities.

Falls in the construction industry are the number one cause of death, and ladders are involved in about 81% of fall injuries treated in emergency departments. The most common injuries include fractures (especially wrist, ankle, and hip), head injuries, and spinal injuries. About 97% of ladder injuries occur in non-occupational settings (home use), with the average injured person being a male over 40 performing home maintenance.

Key safety practices include maintaining three points of contact at all times, ensuring the ladder is on level ground, following the 4-to-1 rule (base 1 foot from the wall for every 4 feet of height), never standing on the top two rungs, not overreaching, inspecting ladders before use, and choosing the correct ladder type and height for the task. Extension ladders should extend at least 3 feet above the landing surface. Falls from relatively low heights (under 10 feet) cause the majority of injuries.