In the construction industry, safety should always be a number one priority. Considering the 9th annual Construction Safety Day falls early next month, it seems appropriate to discuss one of the Fatal Four (the top four injuries that lead to fatalities in the construction industry) - falling. 

Let's start with the numbers: In 2012, the Fatal Four were responsible for 57 percent of construction worker death; with 36 percent of that from falls alone. Falling remains a leading cause of unintentional injury mortality nationwide. The shocking, or maybe not-so-shocking part - 43 percent of fatal falls in the last decade have involved a ladder and among construction workers, an estimated 81 percent of fall injuries treated in hospital emergency rooms have involved a ladder.

So what does this mean? While there are resources, training techniques, and safety equipment that can help reduce these numbers, most individuals skip the extra work and just think, it wont happen to me. Whether you are on a ladder most of the day for your job or just cleaning out your gutters after the snow melts, accidents happen. And the likelihood of them happening are much greater without any thought of safety.

The good news is that safety doesn't have to be a burden. Products like the Ladder-Max "Original" ladder standoff stabilizer and the Quick Connect Ladder Leveler are easy to install and simple to use while providing the safety you need. The Ladder-Max standoff stabilizer provides four points of contact to protect you from side-slip, while also protecting the surface it rests on. The standoff distance also allows you to work in a natural, unstrained position so you're able to reach farther more safely. The Quick Connect Ladder Leveler enables a quick, secure attachment to level your ladder in seconds so you can safely work on uneven ground. 

So before you get back on the ladder, consider the simple things you can do to make your project safer. To learn more about either of the above products visit www.buyladder-max.com.