Ladder Safety Month Can Help Save Lives and Money
March is Ladder Safety Month, an annual public awareness campaign presented by the American Ladder Institute (ALI) and sponsored by NAHB. It’s the perfect time to review your safety policies and procedures for using one of the most common — but dangerous — pieces of equipment on a jobsite.
An estimated 81% of construction site fall injuries treated in hospital emergency rooms involve a ladder. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, approximately 500,000 people are treated and about 300 people die from ladder-related injuries each year.
Ladders also present a financial risk to home builders as ladder-related violations came in at No. 3 on the list of the most common OSHA violations in 2024. There were more than 2,500 written OSHA violation citations related to ladders in 2024 alone.
Everyone on a home building jobsite knows how to use a ladder, yet injuries keep happening. Why? It’s most likely due to complacency.
It is the general contractor’s job to set the tone for safety on the site, not only among their employees but also for subcontractors. Insisting on a culture of ladder safety on the jobsite can stop avoidable injuries.
Learn more about ladder safety best practices in the video below (handouts available here) or use ALI’s ladder safety resources. But the best way to ensure safety while using ladders is to follow three simple guidelines that we all know:
- Select the best ladder for the job, for example, a wide-based step ladder vs. an extendable leaning ladder.
- Thoroughly inspect the floor or ground where a ladder will be placed. Ensure that the surface is stable and level; the ladder should not tilt to either side at all.
- Always have another person either spotting or actively holding and steadying a ladder when in use, especially extendable ladders reaching heights of over eight feet.
Most ladder injuries are entirely preventable by using the knowledge you already have. Just slow down and use them the right way.
Latest from NAHBNow
Remodeling | Awards
Jun 26, 2026
Meet Robert Wood, the 2025 NAHB Remodeler of the YearWhen Robert Wood and his wife Heather first started their company Mountainwood Homes back in 2008, one of their goals was to win a national award. That goal was achieved at the 2026 International Builders’ Show in Orlando, when Robert was named NAHB’s Remodeler of the Year.
IBS | Design
Jun 25, 2026
Custom Builder Transforms a Tuscan Time Capsule Into a Modern Showpiece for IBS 2027When the International Builders’ Show returns to Las Vegas in 2027, attendees will get a firsthand look at how an aging luxury residence can be transformed into a contemporary showpiece.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Jun 26, 2026
Property Tax Revenue Leads State and Local Tax Growth in Q1 2026Property tax revenue collected by state and local governments was higher in the first quarter of 2026 according to the Census Bureau’s quarterly summary of state and local tax revenue.
Economics
Jun 25, 2026
State-Level Economic Growth Strengthened in the First Quarter of 2026State economic growth strengthened in the first quarter of 2026, with real GDP increasing in 46 states and the District of Columbia. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), state-level growth rates ranged from a 4.5% annualized increase in Washington to a 1.6% decline in South Dakota, while Delaware’s economy was essentially unchanged during the quarter.
Economics
Jun 25, 2026
PCE Inflation Hits 3-Years High in MayAs the Iran conflict pushed up energy prices, the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index—the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge—accelerated to a three-year high in May.