187,000 stepladder injuries a year in U.S.

SANTA MONICA, Calif., June 28 (UPI) -- More than 187,000 Americans were treated in hospitals due to stepladder injuries in 2009 but better design could reduce injuries, U.S. researchers say.

Researchers Daniel Tichon of the University of Connecticut, Lowell Baker and Irving Ojalvo of Technology Associates in Stamford, Conn., say compared with a flat surface, stepladders present a smaller and less rigid surface on which to stand, and the narrow steps make it easier for users to lose their balance.

While standing on a stepladder, users may not be able to take a step to regain their balance or grab something to steady themselves, particularly while holding tools or other objects, the researchers say.

"In order to most effectively improve the safety of ladders, the causation of accident needs to be analyzed and better understood," Baker says in a statement. "In many of the cases we have investigated, the claimed cause of ladder accidents is that the person 'just lost their balance' or 'just fell.'"

Both designers and users can make a number of changes to reduce injuries. For example, the ladder could be more rigid to provide a stable work platform with larger flat steps to offset human balance problems.

Users should be warned to avoid excessively reaching or looking above their heads while standing on a too-small stepladder, as this can cause them to sway and lose their balance. Wearing shoes with thin, hard soles can improve balance and stability.

The findings are scheduled to be presented at the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 55th annual meeting Sept. 23 in Las Vegas and is scheduled to be published in the Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 55th annual meeting.