Electrocutions in the construction industry involving portable metal ladders--United States, 1984-1988.

In the United States, electrocution is the fifth leading cause of work-related death from injury (1,2) and the second leading cause of death in the construction industry (3). Ten percent of electrocution incidents in the construction industry involve ladders (4). To identify and characterize incidents in which construction workers were electrocuted while using portable ladders, CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) analyzed national data for 1984-1988. This report summarizes the analysis and recommendations for prevention of electrocutions involving portable metal ladders.