Avoiding the Fall No Employee Wants to Take
Although it is a common practice for employees to perform work while standing on ladders, it puts them at risk for injuries and should be discouraged.
A senior building maintenance employee was working on a building that was undergoing renovations. The job included the installation of an emergency exit light above a doorway. The maintenance employee was positioned on a 10-foot fiberglass stepladder. As he was rechecking the 110-volt electrical wiring using a multi-meter tester, he experienced a strong electrical shock sensation. He was reaching above and behind the light at the time and fell approximately 8 feet to the floor. He sustained a fractured left heel, as well as a compression fracture of his lower back. This employee was hospitalized, according to the OSHA accident report.
Workplace falls are a serious safety concern for employers, whether injuries occur on the same level or from elevated work surfaces. This is due to the fact that injuries resulting from workplace falls often affect multiple body parts -- such as backs, knees, ankles, wrists, and heads -- and require longer recovery times, or worse yet, cause fatalities.
Based on a study conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for 2006, the median days away from work for falls to a lower level was 14 days -- the second-longest non-fatal injuries involving days away from work, behind repetitive motion injuries. The three most common types of injuries were:
• Fractures, which resulted in workers being out of work the longest, 28 days;
• Sprains and strains, which resulted in a median of eight days away from work; and
• Bruises and contusions, which resulted in four days away from work.
Although many factors contribute to workplace falls (such as wet floors, poor lighting, cluttered aisles, ladder/ scaffold collapses, and improper use of equipment), most fatal injuries are the result of falls to a lower level. As an employer, it is your responsibility to keep employees safe. Focusing on jobs that involve high risks and taking steps to minimize exposure to hazards with the greatest potential to cause severe injury or death is key to reducing occupational injuries and illnesses.
What can you do to protect employees from falls at elevated heights?
Provide Proper Equipment Select equipment that meets your needs. Conducting an assessment of your facility and deciding what type of equipment is necessary to accomplish required tasks is an important first step. Portable ladders vary in design and sizes, so looking at the construction, care, and use of wood or metal ladders can ensure safety under normal conditions.
Think about height. As you walk around your facility, consider the height employees are expected to reach to perform maintenance tasks or repairs. OSHA is very specific when it comes to ladder lengths:
• Stepladders must not exceed 20 feet in length.
• Single ladders or individual sections of ladders must not exceed 30 feet in length.
• Two-section ladders must not exceed 60 feet in length.
• Trestle ladders must not exceed 20 feet in length.
If the height of a platform from which employees are expected to work is beyond the ladder length requirements, consider providing powered lifts, such as scissors lifts or aerial lifts, to protect employees from falls.
When selecting the height of a ladder, make sure to consider the highest standing level on the ladder. You can find this information on the label. Also, consider the working length that is needed to permit the required 3 feet that must be above the upper access level. Never allow makeshift ladders constructed out of chairs, benches, or boxes to be used.
Think about weight. When selecting a ladder for your facility, consider the working load, which includes the weight of the user and the materials and tools the ladder will have to support. Checking the labels on commercial ladders for duty ratings to find out the maximum weight capacities will help determine the types of ladders that must be purchased.
Ladders have been designed in five duty classifications:
• Type IAA Special Duty rated at 375 pounds
• Type IA Extra Heavy-Duty rated at 300 pounds
• Type I Heavy-Duty rated at 250 pounds
• Type II Medium-duty rated at 225 pounds
• Type III Light-duty rated at 200 pounds
You should also consider how often the ladder will be used and ensure it is not overloaded. Keep in mind that portable ladders are designed to hold one person at a time, so two employees should never be on a ladder simultaneously.
Think about job activity. Provide portable ladders to enable employees to reach working platforms. Although it is a common practice for employees to perform work while standing on a ladder, it puts them at risk for fall-related injuries and should be discouraged.
In addition, consider the types of jobs that must be performed. A ladder placed near power lines should be made of wood or fiberglass because metal ladders conduct electricity.
This article originally appeared in the October 2008 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.