WERNER Marks 10 Years of Ladder Safety Amid Rising Violations

ITASCA, Ill. – March 02, 2026 – As National Ladder Safety Month kicks off, WERNER, a global leader in climbing equipment, is marking a decade of partnership with the American Ladder Institute (ALI) to combat a persistent and deadly workplace hazard. This 10-year milestone arrives at a critical juncture, as federal data reveals a troubling increase in ladder-related safety violations, underscoring the urgent need for the expanded training and new digital resources being rolled out this March.

Every year, the human and economic cost of falls from height is staggering. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), more than 500,000 people in the United States are treated for ladder-related injuries annually. Tragically, these incidents result in over 300 deaths each year, making the U.S. the world leader in ladder fatalities. The total economic burden, encompassing medical costs, legal fees, and lost work, is estimated at a staggering $24 billion annually.

A Persistent and Costly Crisis

The alarming statistics are mirrored in compliance data from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). For fiscal year 2023, "Ladders (1926.1053)" was the third most cited violation nationwide, with 2,978 documented infractions. This represents a notable increase and a rise in rank from its #4 position the previous year, signaling that despite widespread awareness, fundamental safety practices are still being neglected on jobsites across the country.

Common violations include failing to extend a ladder at least three feet above an upper landing surface, using ladders with structural defects, setting them up on unstable ground, and workers failing to maintain three points of contact while climbing. These citations are not just administrative penalties; they represent high-risk situations that directly contribute to the thousands of preventable injuries and deaths that occur each year.

"Safety is a shared responsibility across every worksite," said Amanda Henson, Vice President of Marketing at WERNER, in a statement. "Every ladder user must be trained on proper selection, inspection, setup, and climbing practices. Our engineering and technical teams design products and training programs based on real-world jobsite data and rigorous testing. March reinforces the message, but our commitment to education and prevention drives our work year-round."

A Decade of Partnership to Promote Prevention

For the past ten years, WERNER has been a key sponsor of National Ladder Safety Month, an initiative led by the American Ladder Institute. Founded in 1947, ALI is a not-for-profit association dedicated to promoting safe ladder use through the development of ANSI safety standards and public education. The March campaign challenges both employers and individual users to re-evaluate their safety protocols and reinforce training.

The 2026 campaign is structured around five weekly themes, providing a focused approach to comprehensive safety education:

• Week One: Choosing the Right Ladder
• Week Two: Check Before You Climb
• Week Three: Set It Up Safely
• Week Four: Climb Safely, Work Safely
• Week Five: Safe Steps with Step Stools

As part of its contribution, WERNER will host a key webinar on Tuesday, March 24, titled "Climb Safely, Work Safely." The session will delve into the critical behaviors that prevent falls, such as avoiding the temptation to overreach, maintaining proper body positioning, and using accessories like levelers and stabilizers to create a secure climbing environment.

Revolutionizing Safety with Digital Resources

Recognizing that effective training must be accessible, WERNER is significantly expanding its suite of digital resources to meet workers where they are. The company has launched an enhanced Ladder Safety landing page on its website, serving as a central hub for new videos, free online courses, and registration for on-site training events.

This year's major innovation is the launch of a new Digital Ladder Inspection Form. This mobile-friendly tool allows workers and safety managers to conduct and document ladder inspections directly from a smartphone or tablet in real time. The ability to instantly email a completed report to safety leadership streamlines compliance and ensures that potentially defective equipment is identified and removed from service immediately.

To further amplify the safety message, WERNER is releasing four new training videos throughout March and has expanded its outreach through other digital platforms. A recent episode of the Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) podcast featured two of WERNER's engineering and technical experts discussing safety best practices. The company has also partnered with safety influencer Rachel Housman of Ally Safety to spread educational content across social media, reaching a broader and more diverse audience of professionals.

The Science Behind Safe Climbing Practices

The principles promoted during National Ladder Safety Month are not arbitrary rules; they are grounded in scientific research aimed at understanding and preventing falls. Core tenets include selecting the correct ladder type and duty rating for the task, performing a thorough inspection for any damage before every use, and ensuring the proper setup angle—typically a 4:1 ratio, where the base is one foot away from the wall for every four feet of height.

Research from institutions like the University of Pittsburgh has focused on factors like friction and shoe-rung interactions to design safer ladder components. Other studies have validated the importance of the 75-degree climbing angle recommended by NIOSH to minimize the risk of the ladder sliding out from the bottom or tipping backward. The universally taught "three points of contact" rule—keeping either two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand, on the ladder at all times—is the single most effective behavior for maintaining stability while ascending or descending.

By translating this engineering and biomechanical research into practical training and innovative products, WERNER and its partners aim to make these life-saving practices second nature on every jobsite. The decade-long campaign is a testament to the belief that through sustained education, accessible resources, and a collective commitment to vigilance, the alarming trend of ladder-related incidents can be reversed. Through these concerted efforts, the goal is to transform ingrained habits and foster a culture where every climb is a safe one, ensuring that every worker returns home at the end of the day.