March 2026 marks a decade of safer climbing due in part from the inception of National Ladder Safety Month by The American Ladder Institute (ALI) with the goal of raising awareness of ladder safety and decreasing the number of ladder-related injuries and fatalities.
ALI “believes ladder accidents are preventable with thorough safety planning, training, and continuous innovation in product design.”
Therefore, ladder accidents can be prevented by raising awareness of ladder safety, decreasing ladder misuse (which leads to injury and death) and increasing the number of people certified in ladder safety training.
The 2026 National Ladder Safety Month will focus on:
- Training and awareness
- Inspection and maintenance
- Stabilization, setup and accessories
- Safe climbing and positioning
With support and guidance from Werner Ladder, National Ladder Safety Month 2026 will home in and investigate a different topic each week, which will be presented via webinar in English followed by Spanish:
Week One: Choosing the right ladder (for the job) will be presented on Thursday, March 5 from 2-3 pm EST. This webinar showcases how to choose the correct ladder for a job by matching type, height and duty rating to a particular task because correct ladder selection is one of the most important decisions prior to working at height. Additionally, attendees will discern common mistakes and best practices to reduce ladder-related injuries.
Week Two: Check before you climb: Common ladder accidents and how to avoid them will be presented on Tuesday, March 10 at 11 am EST. This webinar presents the six most common causes of ladder accidents on the jobsite, what the OSHA standard states and provides solutions to ladder problems. Additional principles of ladder safety, including how to choose the right ladder, inspection, set-up and proper climbing, will also be explained.
Week Three: Set it up safely: DIY and homeowner ladder safety will be presented on Thursday, March 19 at 11 am EST. According to the ALI, the majority of ladder accidents in the US happen at the home. Therefore, week three focuses on the most common causes of such accidents and ways to avoid injuries. The basic principles of ladder safety will be explained as well.
Week Four: Climb safely, work safely will be presented on Tuesday, March 24 at 11 am EST. This topic focuses on the behaviors and decisions that can prevent falls from occurring in the first place, including overreaching, proper body positioning, transitioning on and off a ladder and the correct usage of accessories in keeping people safe. Ultimately, safe climbing depends on trained positioning, controlled movements and using the correct equipment every time you work.
Week Five: Safe steps with stepstools.
For more information about Ladder Safety Month or to register for the weekly safety seminars, go to: https://www.laddersafetymonth.com/participate/scheduled-events or https://www.wernerco.com/us/safety/ladder-safety.
United Tool and Fastener is proud to carry Werner ladders and fall protection safety equipment including harnesses, compliance kits and anchorage connectors. For more information on all the Werner ladder and safety products UT&F offers, please contact a UT&F showroom in Houston at 713-692-2323; in San Antonio at 210-495-8665; or College Station at 979-731-8665.
