Ladder Safety Month: Turning Awareness into Safer Habits
As National Ladder Safety Month marks its 10th anniversary, safety leaders share where companies still go wrong — and how simple daily behaviors can prevent serious injuries.
- By David Kopf
- Feb 17, 2026
The latest episode of the OH&S Safety Pod focuses on National Ladder Safety Month, which marks its 10th anniversary this March. Pat McAuliffe, Vice President of Engineering for North America at ProDriven Global Brands and Vice President of the American Ladder Institute (ALI), joins Ryan Mittelmeier, Technical Service Representative for Werner’s Climbing Team, to discuss how organizations can reduce preventable ladder-related injuries.
McAuliffe explains ALI’s role in establishing consistent ladder safety standards and why many companies still struggle with daily reinforcement of safe behaviors. The conversation highlights how Ladder Safety Month aims to shift safety from a once-a-year training event to a 365-day habit.
Mittelmeier shares practical, jobsite-level guidance, including proper ladder selection, inspection practices, three points of contact, the “belt buckle rule” for overreaching, and common transition mistakes that lead to falls. The episode also covers free training resources and campaign materials available to employers.
Download or stream this episode today from Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon and more.
Sponsored by the American Ladder Institute:
The American Ladder Institute is proud to celebrate the 10th anniversary of National Ladder Safety Month this March. The monthlong campaign promotes ladder safety awareness to help prevent injuries and fatalities. Access free safety resources and learn more at laddermonth.com.
About the Author
David Kopf is the publisher and executive editor of Occupational Health & Safety magazine.