The history of human innovation for working at height dates back centuries. Scaffolding – first depicted in drawings from ancient Greece in the 5th century BC – was fashioned from wood secured by rope knots. Then, in 1862, American carpenter John H. Basely invented the first patented folding wooden stepladder. While designs have evolved over the years, both scaffolding and ladders continue to be hazardous for workers.
According to a CDC report, 20 percent of workplace injuries from falls involve a ladder.1 That statistic surges to 81 percent in the construction industry. In addition, more than 90,000 people receive emergency room treatment for ladder-related injuries each year.