Training in ladder safety can be important for workers in New York. From 1989 to 2005, over 2 million people went to the emergency room because of an accident involving a ladder. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, around two-thirds of ladder accidents are caused by employees who are not adequately trained in ladder safety.
Among the things addressed in ladder safety are where to put the ladder, where to place other equipment and how to maintain and inspect the ladder. OSHA has already issued set standards for how a ladder should be placed, the distance that should be between rungs, the shape of rungs, the rung coating and how far apart the sides should be.
A ladder accident can leave a person permanently injured since many of the types of injuries that result from a fall tend to affect the lower extremities. The person who is below the ladder may also be at risk from things falling from the ladder. Other examples of ladder accidents are someone being hit by a ladder someone else is carrying, falling over ladders and running into power lines with ladders.
People who are injured in ladder accidents might want to contact an attorney to discuss the situation and how to obtain the compensation that will cover the person’s medical costs and other expenses. Most workers who are injured on the job are eligible for workers’ compensation. However, the person might be eligible for additional payments if another party is at fault in the accident. This might include faulty equipment, a lack of compliance with OSHA safety standards or negligence on the part of an employer or a coworker. This compensation may be critical for people who are temporarily or permanently unable to work and continue supporting themselves and their families after a ladder accident.
