Ladder Safety Mobile Application

This technology application (app) is a 508-compliant mobile tool for smart phones or tablets to ensure the safety of workers when using extension-ladders.


Risks Addressed:

Falls from ladders are a major cause of injuries both in the workplace and at home. There are five major causes for extension-ladder falls:

  • incorrect ladder setup angle,
  • inappropriate ladder selection,
  • insufficient ladder inspection,
  • improper ladder use, and
  • lack of access to ladder safety tools and information.

Falls-from-ladders are a leading cause of fall injury and death. In the US, more than 500,000 people a year are treated, and about 300 people die, from ladder-related fall injuries. The estimated annual cost of ladder injuries in the US is $11 billion, including work loss, medical, legal, liability, and pain and suffering expenses. Recent analysis of data from three surveillance systems showed that in 2011, work-related ladder fall injuries in the US resulted in 113 fatalities, an estimated 15,460 nonfatal injuries that involved days away from work, and an estimated 34,000 nonfatal injuries treated in emergency departments.


How Risks are Reduced:

The NIOSH Ladder Safety app delivers free and easy-to-use ladder safety tools and information, reference materials, and training resource for individual ladder users.  The app can help address the risk of ladder falls by helping users make the proper ladder selection at a correct angle as well as provide informational material and guidance on safe ladder use.

Availability

NIOSH Smart Phone Application Download
To obtain information, visit iPhone devices and Android devices or contact 1-202-245-0633