Both professional and domestic ladder users can become the victims of a ladder accident, and although professional users, such as tradespeople and builders, may have more experience and training in safe ladder use, this doesn't guarantee that they won't sustain an injury, or worse, in the course of their day.

A self-employed joiner from Stoke-on-Trent unfortunately died after falling from a ladder on the property where he was working.  The 37-year-old fell while working up a ladder, and police asked for any witnesses, in particular, a woman who is believed to have been walking in the street at the time, to come forward with any information about the fall.  However, it appears the accident was not directly witnessed by anyone.

17-year-old Justin Lee Smith tragically died in Mississippi in early November while out on a hunting trip.  Deer and big game hunters in the USA routinely use ladder stands, which can be nothing more than a standard ladder with a plank attached for a rudimentary seat, or purpose made devices with rifle storage, space for ammunition and a comfy seat.  These contraptions allow hunters to stay out of the wind that might alert their prey to their presence, and crucially out of sight.  The teenager had tethered his ladder to a thin pine tree, and when he climbed it the tree and ladder tipped to the side, sending him plummeting to the floor, where he was then impaled by the barrel of his gun.  With the other members of the hunting party spread out in the forest it was up to Smith to call for an ambulance on his mobile phone, although he sadly died before the emergency services arrived.

Not every tale of accidental impalement ends in tragedy, however, as proved by the case of Sharon Stone from Scarborough, who fell five feet from a ladder while stripping wallpaper and landed on a metal pole which was upright behind her.  She was very lucky that the pole missed her vital organs and that after a 2 hour operation to remove the pole, she was able to leave hospital just 48 hours later. We do hope she didn't start stripping wallpaper again straight away.  Both these cases demonstrate how important it is to be aware of your surroundings and too quickly risk assess the area you are working in – what would you fall onto if you fell from the ladder?  If the answer is “something sharp, big and solid” that's a clear sign to move that item out of the way.  None of us can predict when we might fall from a ladder, but we have plenty of time to check the area for risks before we start climbing.

It's not just items on the ground that can cause fatal ladder accidents, as a father and son team from Seattle found out the hard way.  The duo had been hired to paint the outside of a church.  They were in the process of moving and positioning their ladder, when a gust of wind blew it onto the overhead power lines, electrocuting both men.  The father tragically died at the scene, while the son was taken to hospital and treated

These accidents are all avoidable if a little time is spent assessing the risks, finding alternative ways of completing the job when needed, and ensuring that the area is free from movable hazards on the ground and clear of live cables overhead.