Ladder Safety Starts on the Wall: Posting What Workers Actually Need to See

Falls from ladders are one of those “we know better” hazards that still send workers to the hospital every year. Most crews understand the basics—don’t stand on the top step, set the ladder at the right angle, keep three points of contact—but in the rush of the day, shortcuts creep in.

That’s where clear ladder safety signage and documentation make a difference.

Why “everyone already knows” isn’t enough

Ask any supervisor if their team knows how to use a ladder, and the answer is almost always yes. But walk the site and you might see:

• Ladders stored in the wrong place or blocked behind material
• Ladders with damaged feet, bent rungs, or missing labels still in use
• Workers carrying loads up ladders with one hand
• Extension ladders set too flat or too steep

The problem often isn’t knowledge—it’s reminders and accountability.

When safety rules live only in a training binder or someone’s memory, they’re easy to ignore. When they’re posted at the ladder rack, in the shop, and near common work areas, they become part of the daily routine.

What should be posted for ladder safety?

At a minimum, consider having:

• Ladder Safety Rules Sign
  
• General requirements for inspection, setup, and use.
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• Inspection or “OK to Use” tag/label
  
• Shows that the ladder has been checked and is in serviceable condition.
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• Storage Area Sign
  
• Clearly marks where ladders belong when not in use to prevent damage and clutter.
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A simple combination of wall signs + inspection tags + checklist goes a long way.

Making ladder checks part of the normal workflow

The goal isn’t to bury your team in paperwork. It’s to make ladder checks automatic and simple:

• Post a quick-reference sign at the main ladder storage area.
• Use a monthly inspection checklist to walk through each ladder:
  
• Check rungs, rails, feet, hardware, labels, and locking mechanisms.
• Tag or pull out any ladder that fails inspection.
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• Label ladders with “INSPECTED” or “DO NOT USE” tags so no one has to guess.

When there’s a clear system visible on the wall, it’s easier for workers to:

• Know what “good” looks like
• Call out problems
• Defend themselves when pressured to “just grab that old ladder, it’ll be fine”

 

How CGAP Safety supports ladder programs

CGAP Safety offers signage and kits built to make ladder safety visible and repeatable, such as:

• 8.5” x 11” ladder safety reference signs for storage areas and shop walls
• Tags and labels for ladder inspection status
• Checklists that can be posted, clipped to a board, or filled out as part of inspections

You don’t fix ladder safety with one toolbox talk. You fix it with clear expectations posted where ladders live and a simple process workers can follow without thinking twice.

A few well-placed signs can be the difference between “I thought it was fine” and “We caught that before someone got hurt.”