Are Ladders a Good Low-Cost Option for Working at Height?

More than 80% of fall accidents on construction sites that resulted in a trip to the emergency room involved a ladder.

Each year in the U.S., more than 100 people die and thousands more are injured from ladder-related falls.

Ladders on the jobsite are a major source of construction related injuries that can be dangerous to workers and expensive to the employer at the same time.

Ladders may seem like a cost-effective way to accomplish work at height but when you consider the actual costs related to on-the-job injuries, the relatively low price of purchasing a ladder can end up being the more expensive option.

Ladder accidents are not limited to falls and injuries from falling objects. Ladders are related to other hazards such as overextension and ergonomic injuries as well as knee strain and back injuries caused by handling, setting up and moving them to where work is needed.

Upfront expenses of a work-related injury like emergency room visits, medical bills and rehabilitation are only the beginning of how an injury could impact the bottom line.

Indirect costs such as a loss of productivity, insurance increases and potential OSHA fines can increase the initial cost of such accidents between 4 and 10 times. Consider an initial cost for emergency care and follow up doctor visits of $3000. The total cost could easily end up $12,000 or more.

During the initial planning stages using a ladder when work is required at height may appear to be the cheaper option. But an in-depth review of bottom-line safety factors and expenses caused by injuries to workers clearly indicate there are safer and potentially more cost-effective options available.

Vertical Mast Lifts: A Safer Alternative

All major MEWP manufactures offer excellent options to replace ladders.

Self-propelled or manually propelled, push around Vertical Mast Lifts also referred to as Personnel Lifts come in a variety of height options and are ideal for indoor jobs as well as general maintenance and warehouse work.

These relatively light weight lifts are perfect for use on floors where load limits may prohibit the use of heavier aerial lifts. Most will fit through standard doorways and into service elevators.

Maximum lift height from 12 ft to 40 ft and platform capacities of 350 to 550lbs mean workers can take what they need as they ascend, eliminating the need for multiple trips.

Vertical mast lifts reduce injury to back and knees from positioning and climbing ladders as well as other injuries.

Platform guard rails eliminate the need for three point contact required on a ladder and allow contractors and maintenance personnel to work hands free with a 360 degree range of motion.

Below are some excellent examples of Vertical Mast Lifts offered for sale or rent at Alexander Equipment Rental.

Click on each option for more information:

Self Propelled Options

Skyjack SJ12 

Genie GR20

Manually Propelled or Push Around Option

Genie AWP30S

Alexander Equipment Rental offers Vertical Mast Lifts for sale or rent, available with a variety of platform heights in both self-propelled and push around options. Click on the links below for more information.

Vertical Mast Lifts for Rent

Vertical Mast Lifts for Sale