 Take Advantage of Improving Safety with PDRMA’s Ladder Reimbursement Program
One of the biggest threats to worker safety can be found in nearly every basement or garage in the country as well as many businesses — a traditional A-frame ladder. Ladders are so commonplace and low tech that it’s easy to forget they’re a major cause of workplace injuries and even fatalities. (Ladders ranked sixth on the 2017 top-10 list of injury dangers published by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.)
Luckily, PDRMA’s LRN #1646 — Ladder Alternative Reimbursement Program helps agencies cover the cost of safer alternatives.
Woodridge Park District
“We typically use ladders to change light bulbs, clean vents, paint park shelters and buildings, replace emergency exit light batteries, reach products on upper shelves, or clean and/or repair aquatic park apparatus,” explains John Karesh, CPRP, CPO, Superintendent of Parks at Woodridge Park District.
The varying heights required for these jobs led Karesh to consider a change. “We were looking for a well-built ladder with a platform, so we could stand on a flat surface regardless of the height we needed,” he says. “We had to replace our 8-foot ladder anyway, and PDRMA’s reimbursement program helped cover the cost while allowing us to choose a ladder with some built-in safety features and get it very quickly.”
 Ultimately, the park district chose an 8-foot platform ladder with spring-loaded wheels. “Once you begin to climb the ladder, the springs compress and all four legs are on the ground providing safe use,” Karesh notes.
The benefits were immediate. ‘‘Painting has improved because of our ladder purchase. The new ladder is very safe compared to our old rickety one, and with the platform, we can safely paint areas that we would have had to stretch to reach previously,” he says.
Training on its use was not very complicated either. “The store explained it to a few of us first, and we then instructed staff. Everyone knows to lay the ladder down and secure it when moving it, to be careful not to bump it into anything — and, of course, to always maintain three points of contact when using it. I would highly recommend getting a platform ladder.”
Best of all, Karesh says, was how easy the reimbursement process was. “We made the purchase for roughly $525, submitted the one-sheet reimbursement form with a picture of the receipt and had a reimbursement check within two weeks. PDRMA is always providing us with opportunities to improve safety and training; we took advantage of this one.”
Bolingbrook Park District
At Bolingbrook Park District, Parks Maintenance Manager Ken McEwen, CPSI, has a similar replacement success story. “We use ladders for multiple applications such as checking soccer nets, removing goal posts, getting in the bed of a dump truck, checking playground equipment and fencing, getting something off a shelf, putting up windscreens or changing a sign.”
However, when a staff member used a shorter ladder for a task rather than waiting for a proper-sized one, the resulting fall (and broken wrist) told the agency it was time to make a change. “We had a few ladders retire and had some new ones budgeted for 2018,” he explains. “With PDRMA’s reimbursement program, we were able to get another one to fit our needs.”
After looking at the job tasks that would use the ladder, McEwen chose a 12-foot platform ladder. “Most of our ladder applications are to stand on to work in front of or above your head. Employees said they would feel more comfortable on a platform instead of a step for their job tasks, and the 12-foot ladder would accommodate many of them.”
The feedback on the new ladders was immediate and positive. “It was very easy to explain,” he adds. “In our monthly staff meeting, we discussed how to use the ladders to make the task safer for all staff.
“The new ladders make it much easier to do maintenance when you can stand on a platform rather than a step, especially to change out signs.”
McEwen encourages other PDRMA members to take advantage of the reimbursement program. “We reached out to our PDRMA Risk Management Consultant to ask some questions and complete the process, and we had the full cost of our ladder — $410.28 — reimbursed.”
Take advantage of the Ladder Alternative Reimbursement Program today and improve job task safety at your agency.
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