Is Using a Ladder Worth the Risk on a Job Site?

Every time a ladder is used on your job site, you risk racking up thousands of dollars in potential injury compensation costs, not only due to falls from a surprisingly low distance of 7.5-ft (on average), but also from ergonomic and overexertion injuries.

*According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 500,000 people are treated for ladder-related injuries in the United States annually. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that over 200,000 of these injuries occur in the construction sector alone. A separate study found that falls from height cost businesses approximately $132,377 per injury in direct compensation. And when your workers are injured from overexerting their backs or from a fall, the study found that they’re away for an average of 14-22 days, which means that meeting your deadline may be thrown out the window.

Even more unfortunate is that 36% of construction fatalities are a result of falls, many of which are from less than a 20-ft working height. In fact, falls from height are the leading cause of death in construction, according to OSHA data. The National Safety Council estimates that a fatal injury at work can cost your business approximately $1.34 million per fatality.*

Rethink How Work Gets Done

It’s time to look at the job differently. You need new ways to reduce risks for your workers and to find safe, smart ways to get work done. The fact is: Ladders and scaffolding simply cannot measure up to modern-day safety and productivity standards.

With low-level access lifts from JLG, you’re better equipped to get work done at height, more safely and easily than with traditional ladders. Our enhanced and expanded family of low-level access equipment applies the same uncompromising benchmarks for safety, productivity and operator comfort to indoor applications at lower heights.

Featuring versatile maneuverability and a hands-free, 360-degree range of motion at working heights of up to 17-ft while being able to carry up to 550-lb — all from lightweight machines that offer virtually no setup time — JLG^® low-level access solutions are the smarter, safer alternatives to ladders and scaffolding built to get you to height, wherever the work is to be done.

Expand Your Potential, Extend Your Workspace

Designed for indoor work with tight spaces and sensitive surfaces, JLG low-level access lifts are lighter weight and have a smaller footprint, making them easier to maneuver around all areas of a job site or facility — including fitting through single, standard doorways — no matter which model you choose.

For situations where a ladder isn't the best option for the task at hand, JLG 830P, 1030P and 1230P push-around lifts combine height and reach with low ground pressure for challenging tasks, with the uptime you need to finish the job. JLG EcoLift 50 and EcoLift 70 non-powered models are power-free and have no oil, batteries or hydraulics, making them an eco-friendly, non-disruptive solution for sensitive environments.

JLG’s low-level access lineup can help minimize risks to your employees and your business in a wide range of industries, including:

• Mechanical & Electrical
• HVAC & Ductwork
• Construction
• Finishing Work
• Drywall
• Facilities Maintenance
• Painting
• Retail Refit & Display
• Cleaning
• Healthcare & Educational Facilities
• Data Centers
• Food Processing Facilities

More Models, More Possibilities

Whether it’s fit-out work, end-of-construction work, facility maintenance, electrical or manufacturing, JLG’s growing family of low-level access lifts offers a more cost-effective solution than the typical single-man lift and increased benefits in terms of productivity, safety and long-term costs.

Ready to realize the possibilities of leveraging purpose-built solutions for your workplace? Learn more about JLG low-level access lifts at lowlevelaccess.jlg.com to find the perfect solution for your work-at-height needs.

*SOURCES

Peter Simeonov, PhD, and Sydney Webb, PhD (March 13, 2017), “It’s National Ladder Safety Month,” National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health, https://blogs.cdc.gov/nioshscience-

blog/2017/03/13/ladder-safety-month/; “Falls – Lower Level,” NSC Injury Facts, https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/work/safety-topics/falls-lower-level/; “Top Work-Related Injury

Causes,” NSC Injury Facts, https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/work/work-overview/top-work-related-injury-causes/; “Construction Statistics,” The National Institute for Occupational Safety

& Health, https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/construction/statistics.html; “Work Injury Costs,” NSC Injury Facts. https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/work/costs/work-injury-costs/; Karoly Ban Matei

(January 18, 2024). “At What Height Do Falls Become Deadly?” Safeopedia, https://www.safeopedia.com/at-what-height-do-falls-become-deadly/7/7503.