March 2017 will now be recognized as National Ladder Safety Month, according to The American Ladder Institute (ALI).
The ALI, a not-for-profit ladder association of ladder industry leaders dedicated to promoting safe ladder use, is teaming up with ladder manufacturers, suppliers and government safety organizations to heighten awareness and promote the safe use of ladders by homeowners and working professionals.
“Every year over 300 people die in ladder-related accidents, and thousands suffer disabling injuries,” said Ryan Moss, ALI president and CEO of Little Giant Ladder Systems to the press. “Without better training and continuous innovation in safety, planning and product design, we will continue to see far too many fatalities.”
National Ladder Safety Month will heighten awareness, reinforce safety training, and educate homeowners and working professionals, he added.
The month of March was chosen as it signals homeowners beginning spring home improvement projects and the beginning of construction season. It also is a precursor to· OSHA’s National Fall Prevention Stand-Down in May, NSC’s National Safety Month in June and ASSE’s National Conference in June.
ALI members comprised of most U.S. ladder manufacturers and several component suppliers will emphasize the following five national initiatives:
- Decrease the number of ladder-related injuries and fatalities,
- Lower the rankings of ladder-related safety citations on OSHA’s yearly Top 10 Citations List,
- Increase the number of completed ladder safety trainings on www.laddersafetytraining.org,
- Increase the number of recorded competent ladder inspector trainings,
- Increase the number of companies that inspect and properly dispose of old, damaged, or obsolete ladders.
Those interested in participating in the ladder safety conversation can speak out social media using #LadderSafetyMonth and #LadderSafety.
Safety trainings, industry special events, and downloadable infographics, posters, and graphics to keep individuals and corporations engaged and informed will become available on the soon to be launched LadderSafetyMonth.com website.
