Ladder Safety: Preventing the Most Common DIY Injury

Ladders are so common that most people never think of them as dangerous. That familiarity breeds exactly the kind of complacency that leads to injuries. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, ladder-related injuries send more than 500,000 Americans to the emergency room each year, and falls from ladders cause roughly 300 deaths annually. Ladders are the leading cause of fall-related injuries in residential settings, surpassing roofs, stairs, and every other structure. The pattern in these injuries is strikingly consistent: improper setup, overreaching, wrong ladder for the job, or ignoring weight limits. This guide covers the rules and habits that prevent the vast majority of ladder accidents, whether you are cleaning gutters, painting a room, or accessing your roof for seasonal maintenance.