Age matters when it comes to Ladder Safety
If you’re aged 65+ and using a ladder, you should be concerned. That’s the key take-home message from a new national safety campaign that highlights the increased risks for older workers and home handymen in working at heights.
The Ladder Safety Matters campaign is a joint initiative of Australian, State and Territory Consumer Affairs Agencies and the Victorian Department of Health & Human Services designed to raise awareness and educate on the risk of falls injuries from ladders, specifically for men aged 65+.
Statistics quoted from Product Safety Australia indicate that in one year alone in Australia, ‘1668 people aged 65 years and over were hospitalised because they fell from a ladder. Sixty-two per cent of those injuries occurred in or around their home.*’
And it’s not just an issue for those aged 65+.
Workplace statistics from Safework Australia highlight the fact that as we age, rate of falls injuries and fatalities increases significantly. In fact, workers aged 45+ account for over 70% of fatalities*.
*SOURCE: Work-related injuries and fatalities involving a Fall from Height, Australia – Safework Australia.
It’s clear that in the workplace, employee age-profile must be considered when using a ladder, given the substantial implications of falls injuries and fatalities for Employers (Directors, Executives, Safety, HR), Unions, WorkCover organisations, Safety organisations, Health insurers, Government and, above all, Partners and Family. It’s a fact that complacency can lead to accidents which either injure, permanently disable or end in death.
We believe there are 3 critical factors that can help in saving a life:
- Choice of ladder
- Setting up your work environment effectively
- Knowing your limits and abilities
At Branach, we believe that when it comes to safety, there is no compromise. That’s why every product we develop, every solution we devise, is designed with the safety of your workers in mind.
Further Information
View the real-life stories of Mick, John and Paul who have, along with their families, suffered falls injuries that have profoundly affected lives.
