Ladder Accidents – Stepladder, Extension Ladder, Fixed Ladder, Attic Ladder, Articulated Ladder Accidents<\/h4>\n\n\n

By John L. Ryan, P.E. \/ First published August 2012<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ladder accidents are extremely common.  Ladder accidents can be classified in several\ncategories, including falls from ladders, tipping\/sliding of ladders, failure\nof extension ladder systems, and catastrophic failure of ladders or of ladder\ncomponents.  We have investigated these\naccidents and ladder failures for decades. \nFor attorneys involved in personal injury work, it is critical to\ndetermine what the cause of an accident is. \nOur experience has given us insight into making the distinction between\nthe different causes of ladder accidents. \nThis is an update to our previously published works on ladder accidents.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

Falls\nfrom Ladders<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>

 <\/span>Some ladder accidents\ninvolve the ladder user losing his or her balance and falling from the\nladder.  These cases are normally easily\nidentified because there will be no damage to the ladder, yet there may be\nsignificant injuries to the ladder user.<\/span><\/p>

 <\/span>Tipping\/Sliding\nLadders<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>

 <\/span>Another ladder\naccident model is tipping of the ladder, whether it is a stepladder or\nextension ladder.  Tipping of a\nstepladder may be due to design defects of the ladder which result in excessive\ninstability and racking of the ladder. <\/span><\/p>

 <\/span>A ladder tipping will\nresult in the user falling to the ground. \nUnder certain rare circumstances, a user may ride the ladder as it\nfalls.  If the tipping is due to a poorly\ndesigned and unstable ladder, then a suit against the ladder manufacturer may\nbe in order.  Gathering as much evidence\nis critical in these cases.<\/span><\/p>

 <\/span>Ladders can also slip\nout.  This can occur on stepladders used\nin the straight ladder configuration, but normally occurs on extension\nladders.  Ladder slip-out can be due to a\ncombination of multiple factors, including inadequate friction at the feet of\nthe ladder, the angle the ladder is set up at, the ground surface material,\ncondition, and angle, whether someone is holding the base of the ladder, the\nfriction between the ladder and the surface it is leaning against, and more.<\/span><\/p>

 <\/span>Catastrophic\nFailure<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>

 <\/span>Catastrophic failure\nof a critical ladder component can cause a ladder to collapse, or to cause\nenough sudden movement to knock the person from the ladder.  The most commonly seen failures include\nladder rail failure (typically seen at or below the first rung), rivet failure,\nstabilizer bar failure, and ladder foot failure (extension ladder failure)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lower Stepladder Leg Failure<\/span><\/strong>
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Ladder Rail Failure<\/o:p><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>

 <\/span><\/em><\/strong>Often stepladders involved in accidents present with a bent main front ladder rail.  There may be a bend in one or more of the legs.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Racked Ladder<\/span><\/b><\/p><\/h2>\n\n\n

This can indicate a catastrophic failure of the lower leg due to racking of the ladder as the initiating event of the accident.  Racking occurs when the rear section of a stepladder becomes offset to the side.  This results in one or more legs of the ladder not contacting the ground, which places greater stresses on the ladder legs that are in contact with the ground.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

 <\/span>Permanently Racked Ladder<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>

 <\/span>Some ladders will present with a permanent side set, or rack, in them after an accident has occurred, with no actual rail deformation.  This can be caused by the user falling on the mid section of the ladder rail(s). The tipping that led to the fall may have been caused by an unstable and racked ladder.  Stronger, more rigid ladders resist racking and prevent tipping.<\/span><\/p>

 <\/span>Extension Ladder Specific Failures<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>

 <\/span><\/i><\/b>Extension ladders have unique properties that result in unique accidents.  Accidents occur when an extension ladder is extended, then climbed, and the upper ladder section collapses downward, which can result in the ladder user falling to the rear of the ladder, or it can cause the ladder to tip.  The fly-locks which connect the two ladder sections and allow adjustability of ladder height can false-lock on the ladder, which means that the ladder can temporarily hold some amount of weight, but can collapse at any moment.  This can be due to the gate or tip of the fly-lock itself resting on a ladder member without being fully engaged.  This can also occur due to the end of the upper ladder section resting on a lower ladder step, without the fly-locks engaged.  These types of accidents will often result in a collapsed but not locked ladder.<\/span><\/p>

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Extension Ladder Fly Section Hits on Base Section Rung<\/span><\/b>
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Recommendations<\/o:p><\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>

 <\/span><\/i><\/b>Take detailed pictures of the accident scene and injuries to your client.  Give us a call at (479) 549-4860 or email us at info@mase.pro and let us help you determine the cause of your client’s ladder accident, and whether it was due to a ladder defect.<\/span><\/p>

 <\/span>The End of Type III Ladders!!!!<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>

 <\/span><\/i><\/b>For years we have seen many accidents occurring on flimsy, cheap Type III stepladders.  Manufacturers are phasing this ladder type out altogether.  Many major ladder manufacturers no longer produce these ladders.  We expect a decrease in the number of ladder accidents to result from this.  This is a victory for ladder safety.<\/span><\/p>

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Contact MASE today at (855) 627-6273 <\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":61,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-232","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\n