Ladder Safety Month Can Help Save Lives and Money

Safety
Published

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:

  1. Select the best ladder for the job, for example, a wide-based step ladder vs. an extendable leaning ladder.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.

Subscribe to NAHBNow

Log in or create account to subscribe to notifications of new posts.

Log in to subscribe

Latest from NAHBNow

IBS

Jun 19, 2026

NAHB Kicks Off IBS Webinar Series Next Week

Back this year with another great lineup, the NAHB | IBS Education Webinar series offers a valuable way to continue learning from some of the industry’s most respected educators and thought leaders throughout the year.

Digital Media

Jun 19, 2026

NAHB Members Featured Among Nation’s Top 200 Builders

The May/June 2026 issue of Pro Builder unveiled its annual Top 200 report, which ranks the leading home builders in the United States by 2025 revenue and includes insights about the top trends affecting the industry.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics

Jun 18, 2026

Gains for Household Real Estate Assets

The market value of households’ real estate assets rose to a new high in the first quarter reaching $48.7 trillion, according to the most recent release of U.S. Federal Reserve Z.1 Financial Accounts. This level is 1.7% higher than in the fourth quarter and is 2.6% higher than a year ago.

Economics

Jun 17, 2026

A Laconic Statement: Hawkish Hold and New Plans from the Fed

With a new Fed Chair and plans for evolving operating strategies, the Federal Reserve maintained its target policy rate at the conclusion of the June Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting. For the fourth consecutive meeting, the FOMC maintained the short-term federal funds rate at a top rate of 3.75%.

Economics

Jun 16, 2026

Housing Starts Weaken in May as Multifamily Construction Slows

Housing starts fell sharply in May, driven by a steep drop in multifamily construction. Meanwhile, single-family buildings also slipped amid high interest rates, rising construction costs and ongoing labor shortages.