5 Themes for National Ladder Safety Month

By Karen L. Edwards, RCS Editor.  

March is National Ladder Safety Month, now celebrating its fifth year of safety education. 

If you’re looking for some Toolbox Talk topics, this is the month to focus on ladder safety.  The American Ladder Institute began the Ladder Safety Month initiative five years ago to decrease the number of ladder-related injuries and fatalities.  

For 2021, there is a theme for each week of the month: 

• Week One: Choosing Your Ladder 

• Week Two: Safety Before the First Step (Inspection and Set Up) 

• Week Three: Safety While Climbing 

• Week Four: Safety at the Top 

• Week Five: Ladder Safety Misconceptions 

The organization offers a full library of safety resources including videos that are free for your use. The free ladder safety training courses allow you to rank yourself against others taking the courses and earn a certificate of completion for your participation.  

ALI’s training library includes training modules focused on: 

• Stepladder Safety 

• Single and Extension Ladder Safety 

• Articulated Ladder Safety 

• Mobile Ladder Safety 

The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors writes that, “According to the World Health Organization, the United States leads the world in ladder deaths. Each year, there are more than 164,000 emergency room-treated injuries and 300 deaths in the U.S. that are caused by falls from ladders.” 

Don’t become a statistic, visit www.laddersafetytraining.org to get started today.  

About the American Ladder Institute 

Founded in 1947, the American Ladder Institute (ALI) is a not-for-profit trade association dedicated to promoting safe ladder use through ladder safety education, bilingual safety training and the development of ladder safety standards. 

ALI’s education and training provides guidance on the proper selection, care and safe use of ladders in the workplace and at home. ALI represents the common business interests of its members who are affiliated with the ladder and ladder component manufacturing industry as well as allied associations and organizations.  

ALI also serves as secretariat for the ANSI A14 Committee comprised of industry experts who develop safety standards for the appropriate design, manufacture, testing, care and use of various types of ladders. Learn more at www.americanladderinstitute.org