Back to Case Studies

Falls from ladders

Accident - Example 1

A maintenance fitter lost his footing on the second rung of a ladder. His feet slipped through the rungs and he was killed then his head hit the floor as he fell backards.

Accident - Example 2

A maintenance fitter carrying out routine work was using a ladder to access a ventilation duct in a production area of pharmaceutical company. The ladder was not secured but had suction pads attached to the feet to prevent slipping as it was thought that this would save having a second person present while the task was being untaken.

However the ladder did slip down the wall and ended up flat on the ground. The employee broke both wrists, one had to be pinned. The accident investigation found that the smooth floor, necessary for hygiene standards in the production area, had compromised the performance of the grippers.

Accident - Example 3

The supervisor of a team of shop fitters was concerned that the target date for completion of a project would be missed. On arriving on site to assess progress he became involved in helping to finish the job on time. He fell 2 metres from an unsecured ladder after overreaching while trying to pull cabling through ductwork. He broke an ankle and a wrist in four places. The project was not completed to deadline.

Accident - Example 4

During refurbishment of a warehouse a contractor placed a ladder between two standard of a pallet racking so that the bottom of the ladder was resting against one rack - so that it would not slip - and the top was leaning on the other. The ladder, which was wooden, was an angle of about 45 degrees. It broke under this weight and he fractured his skull.

Accident - Example 5

An electrical fitter, in trying to unscrew a stuck plastic cap off an infrared detector, go more than be bargained for. The force he was using caused the body of the fitting to fail and his hand grabbed hold of live metal whilst he was nearly 3 metres up the ladder. He was thrown off suffering shock, burns and severe bruising.

Accident - Example 6

A self-employed installer fitting cavity wall insulation was working off a ladder using a heavy diamond tube drill. The ladder was not tied and was in poor condition with loose and bent rungs. He overreached and the ladder fell causing the installer to fall 3 metres on to the concrete floor below. He broke his right heel and various other bones in that foot. He has subsequently undergone several bouts of major surgery but is still unable to walk without crutches and he has not worked since the accident.

Accident - Example 7

A window cleaner sustained broken ribs, fingers and a broken arm when he fell 2.3 metres from his ladder while cleaning the windows of a show home on a new housing estate. The ladder was not secured or footed, the ground was dry but sloped gently away from the building. The construction company had not produced a method statement and the injured man had received not health and safety induction when he arrived on the site.

Accident - Example 8

An employee of a construction and building services company was replacing house windows. He was carrying some silicon sealant up the ladder for a new windows and had reached a height of about 3 metres when the bottom of the ladder slipped out and the employee fell, badly fracturing his leg. The accident investigation found that the ladder had been resting on grass that sloped gently away from the building. It had been raining. The ladder was not footed as the injured man's colleague had been inside the building at the time and the ladder was not tied or secured by any other means.

Accident - Example 9

A farm worker sustained serious leg injuries when he fell from a ladder. Under supervision, the 16 year old trainee was trying to fix a door runner about 4.5 metres from the ground. A risk assessment had shown that a fork-lift cage or a tower scaffold should be used. However, the supervisor decided to use the ladder for the short job. The young worker over-reached, slipped and fell.

A farm worker sustained serious leg injuries when he fell from a ladder. Under supervision, the 16 -year-old trainee was trying to fix a door runner about 4.5 m from the ground. A risk assessment had shown that a fork-lift cage or a tower scaffold should be used. However, the supervisor decided to use the ladder for the short job. The young worker overreached, slipped and fell.

Precautions

Properly assess the job to determine what equipment should be used. Ladders are often used for tasks which could be done more safely and more quickly from equipment such as a cherrypicker or a scaffold. Only use ladders for low risk, short duration tasks or where the existing features of the site cannot be altered.

If a ladder is to be used make sure that it is secure and cannot slip. Tie it at the top, have someone hold it as the base, or use a suitable stability device to prevent it from slipping. If the ladder is more than 5 metres long, a person at the base is unlikely to be able to stop it from slipping.

Place the ladder on a firm, stable surface which is of suitable strength to keep the rungs horizontal.

Consider using attachments such as a adjustable ladder leveller, or a 'stand' spreader bar.

Set the ladder at the correct angle. It should be angle out one measure for every four up (75 degrees).

Use a ladder that is, or can be, extended to the correct length - don't work from the top three rungs of the ladder. Make sure the ladder protrudes sufficiently above the place of landing to which it provides access - three rungs or 1 metre should be enough.

Check the ladder for defects, and make sure that it is only used by people who know how to use it correctly.

Source Health & Safety Executive