If a co-worker expresses concerns about the safety of a ladder or mentions worrying about on-site injuries from a fall, do you really take it seriously? Even safety-minded individuals often overlook these risks. We’re just so accustomed to using ladders every day that it seems very safe.
It can be safe, but the reality is that accidents happen. People suffer serious injuries. Some pass away from those injuries. It’s time to be honest about that risk.
Did you know that nearly 42,000 people had to be hospitalized after ladder falls in 2017? At the same time, 270,000 people got rushed to the emergency room.
Emergency workers warn that they see life-altering injuries all the time. These include:
In the short term, these injuries can leave you in significant pain. They may mean you can’t work, play with your children, enjoy your hobbies or even get out of bed.
In the long term, every case is different. A broken leg may heal with no further complications, but a head injury can leave you with mental and emotional issues that never fully heal. You may even find that you can’t work at all anymore.
Plus, as noted, people suffer fatal ladder falls all year around in the United States. These are a serious risk for construction workers and their families.
So, it’s time to be honest about what’s happening and the risks workers face. They need to know all of the legal options they have after a serious accident.
