Ladder inspections should be part of any company’s safety program if they have a ladder exposure. When a person loses control of their balance on a ladder or the ladder fails underneath them, they will fall onto of the ladder, and they will also try and catch themselves on the rungs. I have seen claims from ladder falls that resulted in shoulder reconstruction, broken legs or wrists, and of course there are examples of greater injury or even death associated with improper use of a ladder or the ladder failing.
I recently received an email with an attachment titled “Significant Near Miss Involving a Fiberglass Extension Ladder.” It is a description of an event that happened to and was documented by Virginia Roofing Inc. Because it could have easily resulted in a crippling injury or death I am going to post the pictures and give a brief summary of the story. If you want to read the entire story, Google the title above and read away! 
Essentially a 160 lb worker was climbing a fiberglass ladder rated for a 300 lb. load. The ladder was a 30 foot extension ladder and they were using it to gain access to the roof. When the worker reached the roof the ladder began to give way underneath him, and he grabbed the roof edge and hung on, until his coworker was able to put an additional 30 ladder underneath him so he could decent safely.
Inspection of the company’s other fiberglass ladders showed cracks and places where the fiberglass integrity had been compromised.
For assistance with your workplace safety program contact Workplace Safety
This leads to the point that the final inspection a ladder should go through is the one immediately prior to use.
Ladders inspections should be conducted annually by the company. Ladder inspections should be done prior to each use by the user.
When a ladder has had its mechanical integrity compromised, it should be destroyed and discarded. Don’t let a worker or passerby take a hazard home with them, where they will only get hurt at home.
