Climbers are frequently hit by passing carts, cars and even trains. In some cases, federal codes require spotters and barricades. Ladders propped on top of another object to gain height or convenience often move. If the floor surface or the upper surface are slippery, the ladder may slide away from the climber. A weak leg can compress then act as a spring to catapult the climber.
Some people believe that ladder falls are always the fault of the victim.
Many are blamed on a lack of common sense. In one half the ladder accidents investigated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the worker carried materials in his hands as he climbed. Materials should be raised to the work station on a tether. In many accidents, either the ladder or worker slipped. A ladder should always have four point contact with the working surface, and pressure on each leg should be proportional.