There’s nothing more convenient than a ladder. There’s also, nothing more dangerous. After all, it only takes a fall from a few feet onto a solid surface to cause serious injury or even death. That’s why it’s imperative that both commercial jobsites and private homes contain ladders that are safe and as slip free as possible. 

The Todd J. Leonard Law Firm, a personal injury attorney in N.J., states that as recent as 2017, every seven minutes, a New Jersey resident was admitted to the hospital for slip and fall-related injuries, some of these from ladders. Property owners, including government entities, individuals, and businesses, have a responsibility to ensure that their property is safe for their guests. 

While most organizations and private property owners take safety seriously, slips and falls, including ladder falls, still happen. They can result in significant injury. In fact, of the approximately 95,000 falls that occur each year, 80 percent result in hospital treatment while an average of 400 cases will result in death.   

But you can’t get around the fact that there are times a ladder is a necessity. Says a recent report, by allowing you to reach beyond your standing height, ladders enable you to engage in numerous projects that you’d otherwise need to pay a contractor for. Or you just might even put the project off forever. 

So long as the ladder you’re using is safe, and you are using it safely, they can become an indispensable tool to have around the workplace and/or the home. But that doesn’t mean ladders aren’t intimidating if you’re not used to using them. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), ladder accidents and injuries are all too common and account for hundreds of deaths annually in the U.S. alone. 

So how should you handle working with a ladder? By following the safety guidelines that have been established by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), you can significantly reduce the chance of both accident and serious injury. Maybe you can’t eliminate all risk, but using a ladder is still a safer bet than climbing onto an unstable chair, stool, or countertop to gain height and reach.

That said, here are just a few of the safest ladders on the market today. NOTE: this information was compiled by professional contractors. 

This is said to be a versatile, reliable ladder engineered for general home use. It boasts a solid frame and comes with some convenient features such as plastic handle and smooth mechanics that allow it to pop right open. 

The easy-to-operate ladder is said to be useful for jobs that require the transportation of a lot of supplies and gear, such as big interior painting projects. Keep in mind that due to its aluminum construction, you don’t want to use this ladder for any electrical wiring projects. 

Lightweight and thin, the Rubbermaid step stool is said to provide a sturdy platform when all you need is an extra couple of feet of reach. While the step stool is strong enough to support 225 pounds of weight, it collapses into a small, highly storable unit. It’s 6.6 pounds means you can easily hang it on the garage wall if you so choose.   

From a professional’s point of view, the Rubbermaid step stool comes equipped with a convenient top platform. It’s constructed with a long magnetic storage tray for small screws, nuts, and fasteners. 

Plus, it’s a got good sized cutouts for holding hammers or drills, plus another four smaller holes for storing nut drivers and screwdrivers. A small utility hook flips outwards from the back of the top cap, allowing you to hang a paint can or even a storage bucket. These features aren’t all about convenience, so much as safety.  

Versatility, stability, and safety are the keywords for the Gorilla 18-foot aluminum ladder. Designed for both heavy-duty residential and commercial construction projects, this ladder provides 18 feet of reach and can support up to 300 pounds, safely. It’s no-slip treads are ideal for workers who also find themselves taking on exterior tasks in all sorts of weather.  

The ladder can be set up in a variety of configurations, such as an A-frame, a 90-degree wall ladder, or a long extension. While the ladder itself is a bit heavy, changing from one configuration to another is said to be relatively easy and quick. 

But safety is the most important thing you want to look for in a ladder and the Gorilla 18-foot product is said to deliver.

With it’s wide-flared legs combined with slip-resistant foot treads, this ladder provides a secure, stable platform for you to reach new heights.