Salem, OR — Ladders are
essential tools on a variety of job sites, easy to obtain and simple to use. As
fatal injury and rule violation data show, however, their safe use is hardly
guaranteed.
Help is now
available: Oregon OSHA has launched a free online ladder safety training course
featuring videos that walk employers and workers through everything from the
types and dangers of ladders to safe practices and proper storage of ladders.
“With thoughtful
planning and training, we can address the life-threatening hazards that come
with using ladders while on the job,” said Roy Kroker, consultation and public
education manager for Oregon OSHA. “This easy-to-use online course is designed
to provide employers and workers with a solid foundation to build their own
ladder safety program.”
The course
includes interviews with Oregon OSHA and industry experts who discuss a
comprehensive set of ladder safety issues. Those issues include choosing the
right type of ladder for the job; heeding the ladder manufacturer’s
instructions; addressing the common hazards associated with using ladders; and
following ladder safety rules.
From 2011 to
2016, the most common sources of fatal injuries from falls to a lower level
were ladders (836 fatal injuries) and roofs (763), according to the U.S. Bureau
of Labor Statistics. Moreover, ladder use was the No. 6 most cited Oregon OSHA
standard in 2018, with 148 total violations and initial penalties totaling
$109,920. The standard covers multiple requirements, including that side rails
must extend at least three feet above an upper landing surface; that ladders
must be maintained free of slipping hazards; and that they must be periodically
inspected for visible defects.
The ladder safety
training course – which includes the opportunity to receive a certificate of
completion – is the second of five online courses about fall protection that
Oregon OSHA is releasing during the summer and fall of 2019. The first one was
“Fundamentals of Fall Protection.” Courses addressing fall protection for
roofing and construction, and walking-working surfaces are on the way.
The Ladder Safety
training course is available online: https://osha.oregon.gov/edu/courses/Pages/portable-ladder-safety-online-course.aspx
Take the
Fundamentals course: https://osha.oregon.gov/edu/courses/Pages/fall-protection-online-course.aspx
Oregon OSHA
encourages the use of online training. Learn more: https://osha.oregon.gov/edu/courses/Pages/default.aspx
Oregon OSHA’s
technical staff members can answer questions to help employers understand how
to apply rules to their workplace:
Phone:
503-378-3272
Toll-free in
Oregon: 800-922-2689
Email: tech.web@oregon.gov
Online contact
form: https://osha.oregon.gov/Pages/Contact-Technical.aspx
Employers may
also contact Oregon OSHA’s no-cost consultation services for help with safety
and health programs:
Phone:
503-378-3272
Toll-free in
Oregon: 800-922-2689
Field office
locations and phone numbers: https://osha.oregon.gov/Pages/maps.aspx
Email: consult.web@oregon.gov