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sf ladder accidents | Northern California Personal Injury Blog

Reducing Ladder Accidents at Northern California Construction Sites

By Kelly Balamuth on February 23, 2011

The construction industry has the highest fatality rate among all industries in the country. Many of those construction fatalities involve falls, and many of those falls that occur involve ladders. However, if you follow a few safety tips from the Industrial Accident Prevention Association (IAPA), ladder accidents can be greatly reduced.

The potential hazards involved in ladder use aren’t limited to falls from ladders. Construction workers could potentially be struck by falling ladders or materials from ladders or could trip over ladders. Workers could also suffer an injury while carrying a heavy ladder or could hit people while carrying a ladder.

To make ladder use safer in your workplace, and to help prevent San Francisco construction falls, you first need to set up some safe practices for their use. Choose the right ladder for each job, and always inspect a ladder before using it. If you must use a long or heavy ladder, get assistance. If there will be a high volume of traffic where the ladder will be used, have someone hold it to steady it. While climbing a ladder, face forward and maintain three-point contact. Do not carry materials in your hands while climbing. You should also not allow more than one person to climb a ladder at the same time.

As part of your ladder safety program, set up a regular system for maintenance. This includes inspecting the ladders for common defects, prohibiting the painting of ladders (which can hide cracks), and prohibiting repairs that include binding with wire. If a ladder cannot be safely repaired, it should not be used. If you follow these simple steps, the risk of ladder accidents at your Northern California construction site can be greatly reduced.

Employers have a duty to maintain a safe workplace for employees, and if they fail to do so, they could be held responsible for any workplace accidents and injuries that occur as a result of their negligence. If you have been injured while working at a construction site in Northern California, contact the Northern California construction accident attorneys at Balamuth Harrington. Call us today at 1-888-254-1234 to learn more about your rights.

Attorney Kelly Balamuth was profiled in the
September 2013 Issue of Plaintiff Magazine.

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