How Does Ladder Use Cost Your Company?
Date Posted: January 30, 2025
Posted In: Discussion,
From Construction Business Owner: The construction industry is burdened with a massive productivity problem. And ladder use is contributing to it. Ladders can cause wasteful motion, which leads to fatigue and reduces productivity. The less productive contractors are, the more costly it is.
According to a McKinsey Global Institute report, lagging construction productivity costs the global economy $1.6 trillion
a year.
Wasteful motion from climbing a ladder alone can set construction companies back more than $5,500 per worker a year, according to the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA).
Also concerning is the fact that as productivity goes down, the risk of injury goes up — and ladders are already considered to be one of the most dangerous tools on the jobsite. The MCAA says there is a direct correlation between every percentage point of productivity and risk of injury, so if productivity is down 10%, your chances for injury increase 10%.
Injuries to your crew members can add up quickly. The average cost of each construction injury is $27,000.
So, how can we reduce wasteful movements and perform work at height more efficiently?