Free safety training is available at laddersafetytraining.org
The American Ladder Institute (ALI), the only approved developer of safety standards for the U.S. ladder industry, has released findings from its 2024 Ladder Safety Training and Citations Survey. Results reveal preferred methods of ladder safety education as well as types of ladder-related accidents and injuries, frequency and types of ladder citations, and how rates compare to surveys from 2016, 2018, and 2020.
Survey participants were asked what type of ladder-related accidents or incidents have occurred at their organization over the last two years. The most common cause of these incidents was the ladder being set up incorrectly, followed by using the wrong ladder for the job (too long, too short, wrong material, wrong application).
From 2020 to 2024, there was a 21% decrease in ladder-related accidents that resulted in serious injury or loss of life.
The survey found that nearly all organizations (98%) use a form of ladder safety training. The year-over-year comparison shows an increase in the number of organizations paying for safety training (35%, up from 28% in 2020). Similar to 2016, 2018, and 2020, in 2024, more than 75% of the organizations mandate training and have done so for many years.
Organizations don’t need to pay for ladder safety training. ALI provides robust, absolutely free-of-charge ladder safety training at its dedicated training website.
The site makes safety training easy all year long, with an organized curriculum, training videos, and resource libraries, all completely free. Training courses are designed to seamlessly complement and integrate with an organization’s existing training program, or managers can choose to use the entire program.
After signing up, trainers and training managers develop a custom dashboard, called a Trainer’s Toolbox, in which they select training and testing, assign them to trainees, and monitor trainee performance and progress on the assignments. The Toolbox is designed for ultimate flexibility and ease of use. Topics covered include single and extension, articulated, mobile, and stepladders. Training is available in English or Spanish.
Taking training on laddersafetytraining.org does not require an invitation from a trainer. Anyone who wishes to enhance their awareness of ladder safety can sign up, take training, and be tested.
ALI believes continuous safety training is the best way to empower workers to make the right decisions when using ladders. To raise further awareness about ladder safety, ALI has designated every March as National Ladder Safety Month. It unveils an intensive, four-week educational outreach program each year at that time.
The 2024 Ladder Safety Training and Citations Survey was distributed to ladder safety training managers and professionals by ALI’s Education & Outreach Committee and Thomas Associates, Inc., based in Cleveland, Ohio. The survey is part of ALI’s ongoing effort to reduce ladder-related incidents and promote ladder safety training for all ladder users in professional settings and at home.
