Community urged to prioritise ladder safety as hospitalisations rise

THE community is being urged to take care when climbing ladders, whether people are decorating their homes with Christmas decorations or taking advantage of the warm weather to complete jobs around the house.

In the past decade, hospital admissions for ladder falls in the home have increased by almost 50 per cent among Victorians aged 55 and over, according to data from the Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit, an accident research centre based at Monash University.

The number of visits to emergency departments for ladder-related injuries also increases significantly through the summer months, with men over the age of 65 most at risk of hospitalisation.

Falls from ladders can cause serious, and sometimes fatal, injuries including head, brain, spinal and rib injuries as well as bone fractures, and for some may require a lengthy hospital stay and result in long-term consequences that reduce an individual’s independence and quality of life.

In 2020 alone, 36 people died from falls from ladders in Australia. Of those deaths, 11 were Victorians.

Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas implored the community to use common sense and take the necessary precautions to prevent falls and serious injuries when using a ladder around the house.

These precautions include:

• Avoiding climbing ladders in wet, windy or hot weather

• Working within arm’s reach, never leaning too far from the ladder and always wearing enclosed and non-slip footwear

• Staying in the centre of the ladder and only climbing as far as the second step from the top

• Ensuring the ladder is placed on dry, firm and level ground away from outward-opening doors and windows

• Maintaining three points of contact by always keeping both feet and one hand on the ladder

• Having another person nearby to offer support, and

• Making sure the ladder is in good working order and the correct height for the job.

“We know Victorians are looking forward to putting up Christmas lights and doing projects around the house this summer,” Ms Thomas said.

“While many Victorians are enjoying the festive season, our dedicated doctors and nurses at trauma hospitals like the Alfred, will be working hard to deliver world-class care to those in need.

“We should all do what we can to avoid preventable injuries like ladder falls.”