by Brianna Crandall — December 29, 2014—According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), ladder-related injuries are a persistent, yet preventable, public health problem with significant economic impact on society. In 2013, approximately 511,000 people in the United States were injured from ladders and treated in health-care settings, at a cost of $24 billion including work loss, medical, legal, liability, and pain and suffering expenses.
Further, falls from ladders are a leading cause of fall injury and death in all industries. In 2011, there were 113 deaths from work-related ladder falls and approximately 34,000 additional nonfatal injuries from work-related ladder falls treated in hospital emergency departments in the United States. Among construction workers, about 81% of reported fall injuries treated in emergency departments involved a ladder.
NIOSH says that ladder angle significantly affects ladder stability. Research has suggested that ladder users tend to position extension ladders at suboptimal angles, which increases the risk of ladder slide-out events and associated falls. A ladder set too steeply or too shallow cannot provide safe support.
Ladder Safety app
In light of these findings, NIOSH researchers developed, evaluated, and patented a method and technology for positioning extension ladders at an optimal angle. NIOSH then partnered with ATL International and DS Federal Inc. to transform the ladder safety technology into the first NIOSH smart phone application—”Ladder Safety,” which is expected to help ensure worker safety as well as improve productivity.
The app features an easy-to-use ladder positioning tool—an indicator that provides visual, sound, and vibrational signals—to assist users in quickly positioning an extension ladder to the proper angle. The application also provides graphic-oriented interactive reference materials, safety guidelines, and checklists for extension ladder selection, inspection, accessorizing, and use, which can serve as a convenient reference and training tool.
To ensure that the guidance materials are up-to-date with the latest ladder safety standards, NIOSH partnered with the American Ladder Institute and the American National Standards Institute A14 committee. The NIOSH Ladder Safety Smart Phone app is available as a free download for Apple and Android mobile devices in both English and Spanish.
According to NIOSH, the app has been downloaded more than 24,000 times and has received very positive reviews and high ratings. The app has also reportedly been promoted by many state officials, industry leaders, and safety professionals, and has received considerable international attention as well as awards from U.S. government agencies. NIOSH is exploring opportunities to develop more mobile applications to promote workplace safety and health and help protect workers from occupational injuries and illnesses.
