Many people use ladders in their daily life, whether or not it has anything to do with their regular job tasks. Any time someone must reach a balcony, a rain gutter or even a higher shelf, they risk falling.
It is important to understand the ways ladder injuries may manifest. How exactly can a ladder hurt the person using it, anyway?
Neck and head injuries
The CDC looks at occupational ladder falls. Many of these falls happen in the construction industry due to their heavy reliance on working between floors or on structures at a much taller height than what humans can reach on their own. However, any workplace with a ladder of any size used for any reason could result in injuries, too.
Falls from a ladder often result in head, back and/or neck injuries. Head injuries can include traumatic brain injuries which may result in emotional fluctuation, memory loss, personality changes and worse.
Damage to the neck or spine can also cause problems in mobility. Some victims may experience partial or even full paralysis of some or all limbs due to injuries to these areas.
Paralysis and back pain
Even a back injury that does not involve nerve damage or paralysis can take months or even years to fully heal. On top of that, back pain is one of the leading causes that people call out of work for across the country. One single fall from a ladder can result in months or longer of recovery in a hospital, hospital bills, and a lack of steady pay.
Worse yet, these injuries can happen no matter what height a person falls from. This is crucial to keep in mind when using any ladder.
