Falls – many involving ladders – are a leading cause of workplace injuries, according to a NIOSH study. Researchers examined data from several surveillance systems, including the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses and the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System – Work Supplement.

Ladder fall injuries are a persistent hazard both in the workplace and at home. There are five major causes for extension-ladder fall incidents: incorrect ladder setup angle, inappropriate ladder selection, insufficient ladder inspection, improper ladder use, and lack of access to ladder safety tools and information.

Work-related falls from ladders caused 113 deaths and almost 15,500 nonfatal injuries that resulted in at least one day away from work in 2011, according to researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).