[Accidental falls using ladders leaning against a wall. A study of 266 cases in relation to the cause of the accident, sequelae and prevention].

Falling accidents rank high on the list of industrial accidents in the building industry, accounting for 5.6 per cent (2) of allnotifiable cases. Studies were conducted into 266 falling accidents from lean-to-wall ladders, with age, trade, time of accident, cause of accident, and consequences being separately analysed. More than 50 per cent of all falling accidents occurred to workers while they were climbing ladders. Slight injuries accounted for 60.5 per cent, moderate injuries for 32.7 per cent, and severe injuries for 6.8 per cent. The falling depths of 79 per cent were between 0.3 m and 1.99 m. Lower extremities were primarily affected by distortion or dislocation, while upper extremities were more often injured by fractures. Non-compliance with safety rules was the most common single cause.