Outside of hand tools ladders are probably the most abused and misused tools in industry. We've all seen them thrown around shop areas like scrap wood and allowed to deteriorate without much attention given to their physical condition. Ladders that are made dangerous through abuse will sooner or later, cause someone to fall. Hopefully, the fall is not serious, and does not disrupt the job. However, the fall could also cause someone to go to the hospital.
 

Far too many ladder accidents occur both in and out of the workplace . The main cause of falls from ladders are lack of falls from ladders are lack of stability and sliding. The human factors that contribute to these falls include haste, sudden movements, lack of attention during use, and worn or damaged ladder parts. In particular, many falls are caused by worn or missing slip-resistant ladder feet (safety footings) and by dirty or slippery steps or rungs.
 

The key to safety when using ladders is first, make sure that the ladder is the proper type and in good condition for the job you are going to do. Secondly, take the time to properly set the ladder and make sure that it is stable. When climbing, keep your mind on what you are doing. When conditions make the rungs too slippery, do something about it. Don't try to balance yourself dangerously on a ladder that is unsafe. The few moments that you take to make the ladder safe will be far less expensive than a trip to the hospital after a fall.
 

After everything is considered, the most essential ingredient to ladder safety is YOU!