A NIOSH Smart Phone App for Extension Ladder Safety

© Andy Dean – stock.adobe.com

This digital tool can prevent falls from ladders and save lives, in both the workplace and at home.

By: Maureen Paraventi

Extension ladders, which are adjustable in length and stable when properly set up, are used in many kinds of workplaces because they are able to reach high places. It’s the “when properly set up” clause that is vitally important. Extension ladders that are placed at an incorrect angle can be the cause of injuries or – worse – fatalities. Fortunately, there’s an app for that.

First, a brief overview of these extremely useful pieces of equipment.

THE BASICS OF EXTENSION LADDERS

Extension ladders, which are non-self-supporting, contain either two or three adjustable telescopic sections that can be adjusted to change the length of the ladder. Adjustments should never be made while someone is standing on the ladder. The ladder length should be adjusted while a person is standing at the base of the ladder, so that they can see that the rung locks (extension locking devices) are engaged and that the extension rope is tracking correctly in the pulley.

The length also depends on the duty rating of the ladder which, according to the American Ladder Institute (ALI)¹, is as follows:

LADDER DANGERS

Thousands of ladder-related injuries send people in the U.S. to hospital emergency departments or urgent care facilities each year. Common causes of ladder-related incidents include lack of training, faulty equipment and improper ladder use. Users must be careful about getting on or off the ladder at the upper level, so that they don’t tip the ladder over or cause the base to slide out of position.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) notes that ladder angle significantly affects ladder stability. Research has suggested that ladder users tend to position extension ladders at suboptimal angles, which increases the risk of ladder slide-out events and associated falls. A ladder set too steeply or too shallow cannot provide safe support for users.

To address this problem, NIOSH researchers developed, evaluated, and patented a method and technology for positioning extension ladders at an optimal angle. NIOSH partnered with ATL International and DS Federal Inc. to transform the ladder safety technology into a NIOSH Smart Phone application “Ladder Safety.” Working with the American National Standards Institute A14 committee has allowed NIOSH to make sure that guidance materials are aligned with the latest ladder safety standards. This app has come into widespread use, but many companies that use extension ladders are still unaware of it.

The NIOSH Ladder Safety Smart Phone app helps users quickly position an extension ladder at the proper angle. © Production Perig – stock.adobe.com

ABOUT THE NIOSH APP

The app developed by NIOSH and its partners helps users quickly position an extension ladder at the proper angle, with an easy-to-use positioning tool — an indicator that provides visual, sound, and vibrational signals. The app also provides graphic-oriented interactive reference materials, the aforementioned safety guidelines, and checklists for extension ladder selection, inspection, accessorizing, and use, which can serve as a convenient reference and training tool. The Ladder Safety Smart Phone app is available as a free download for Apple and Android mobile devices in both English and Spanish.

This digital tool can prevent falls from ladders and save lives, in both the workplace and at home. In addition to extension ladders, it also covers straight and step ladders.

The app has been downloaded thousands of times and can be readily accessed at the job site, so that workers can ensure they position ladders at the correct angle to prevent falls. It has been endorsed by a variety of state officials, industry leaders, and safety professionals as a useful training and performance tool. Additionally, the app has been recognized by the Department of Health and Human Services with an HHS Innovates Award Honorable Mention, by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a notable accomplishment. It has garnered an Alice Hamilton Award for Occupational Safety and Health, an Engineering and Control Winner and a Bullard-Sherwood Research-to-Practice [R2P] Technology Award Winner

If you haven’t yet taken advantage of this tool, download the NIOSH Ladder Safety Smart Phone app today: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/falls/ladder/ladder-safety-app.html

OTHER LADDER SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS

• Safety “shoes” or some form of slip-resistant feet should be on the base section of an extension ladder. Slip-resistant feet should be regularly inspected to make sure they are in good continue. The ladder should not be used on ice, snow or slippery surfaces, unless special care is taken to prevent slipping.
• When a ladder is being used on uneven surfaces, ladder levelers can be used to achieve equal rail support.
• Users should avoid over-reaching and should navigate up and down the ladder near the middle of the rungs. They should never move up higher than the step bearing the label marking the highest standing level.
• Climbing and gripping surfaces should be free of oil, grease or other slippery substances.
• Ropes, cables and pulleys should be inspected regularly to ensure proper operation, and replaced when worn or defective. WMHS