Published on: November 30, 2017

Richmond B.C. — WorkSafeBC has released six new ladder safety videos to remind workers, employers, and homeowners to use ladders safely, both on the job and while decorating at home for the holidays.

“Last year, more than 1,000 workers were seriously injured in falls from height, including while using step ladders, extension ladders and scaffolding,” says Dan Strand, director of Prevention Field Services for WorkSafeBC. “The new videos and our ladder safety resources illustrate how the right ladder, the correct positioning and hazard assessments could prevent a life-changing serious injury or death.”

From 2012 to 2016, six workers died and there were 4,920 accepted time-loss claims — including 1,634 serious injuries — as a result of falls from ladders across all industries in B.C.

It’s time to use ladders safely:

• Select the right ladder for the job and ensure the ladder is long enough to extend one metre above the upper landing
• Place the ladder on a firm, level surface and inspect it before each use to ensure it’s in good working condition, looking for issues such as cracks or loose rungs
• Always maintain three points of contact while climbing a ladder: two feet and one hand or two hands and one foot
• Don’t carry heavy or bulky objects while climbing up or down a ladder
• Don’t work from the top two rungs of the ladder or have more than one worker on a ladder at once
• Wind, rain, and snow may pose additional hazards that need to be mitigated
• Check for power lines and ensure a minimum distance of three metres can be maintained at all times before starting work

WorkSafeBC is an independent provincial statutory agency governed by a Board of Directors appointed by the provincial government. The organization serves approximately 2.3 million workers and 231,000 employers throughout British Columbia. In administering the Workers Compensation Act, the organization is accountable to the public through the provincial government.

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Media contact to arrange for an interview:

Erica Simpson
WorkSafeBC Media Relations
Cell: 778.874.0281
Email: erica.simpson@worksafebc.com