March is National Ladder Safety Month: Help is Available for Home DIYers

Safety tips and free training from American Ladder Institute

CLEVELAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The theme of this year’s National Ladder Safety Month, observed throughout March, is “Safe at Work. Safe at Home.” It was specifically chosen to emphasize that the workplace is not the only place where safe ladder practices should be used. Taking the time to become familiar with basic ladder safety is something every homeowner should do, and is encouraged by the American Ladder Institute (ALI), the founder of National Ladder Safety Month.

Safety tips can be found at www.laddersafetymonth.com. Free, in-depth ladder training is available at www.laddersafetytraining.org.

Some home DIYers might believe ladder safety training is excessive for home use, but think about this: home ladder users are usually alone during projects, have less knowledge than the professionals, and get hurt just as badly if they fall. In this context, safety training seems like an obvious course of action.

Meanwhile, here are some common household ladder misconceptions. Did you know that the top 3 rungs of an extension ladder are NOT meant to be used for climbing? And that it is unsafe to stand on the top step or top cap of a stepladder, as it increases the likelihood of losing your balance?

National Ladder Safety Month 2024 will focus on four key themes, one each week. You can follow along at www.laddersafetymonth.com. This year’s themes are: Week One: Training and Awareness; Week Two: Inspection and Maintenance; Week Three: Stabilization, Setup, and Accessories; and Week Four: Safe Climbing and Positioning.

Take the goals of National Ladder Safety Month to heart, use the available resources, and approach the next home project with confidence.

Helping to motivate safety and the success of Ladder Safety Month are our sponsors. This year’s Middle Rung Sponsors are: International Masonry Institute, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, Werner Co., and Louisville Ladder. The First Rung Sponsor are Dorsey & Whitney LLP. and the National Association of Home Builders.

About the American Ladder Institute

Founded in 1947, the American Ladder Institute (ALI) is a not-for-profit trade association dedicated to promoting safe ladder use through ladder safety resources, safety training, and the development of ANSI ladder safety standards.