Every dealership has at least one. They live in the parts department, the service bay, the showroom storage closet, and the tire rack area. We’re talking about ladders, and because they’re so commonplace, they’re dangerously easy to ignore.
OSHA enforcement data consistently shows ladder-related injuries among the most frequent and preventable causes of serious workplace harm. March is National Ladder Safety Month. Think of it as your annual reminder to inspect those ladders before someone gets hurt or OSHA shows up.
What is National Ladder Safety Month?
National Ladder Safety Month is observed in March and spearheaded by the American Ladder Institute (ALI). ALI is dedicated exclusively to promoting ladder safety at home and at work. ALI works to provide critical guidelines on ladder safety to prevent the tens of thousands of injuries and hundreds of deaths that are caused yearly by ladder misuse.
Why Dealerships Are Especially at Risk
Unlike a construction site where ladder use is planned and supervised, dealership ladder use tends to be casual and spontaneous. Someone needs something off a high shelf so they grab the nearest ladder and go. They didn’t check its condition. They didn’t check the rating. They didn’t stop to think about whether there was a safer option. Because it is something people use every day, it’s easy to forget that safety should be top of mind. But commonplace doesn’t equal harmless, and employees need to remember that ladder safety still matters every single time.
What OSHA Actually Requires (29 CFR 1910.23)
Ladder safety in general industry workplaces, including dealerships, falls under OSHA’s Walking-Working Surfaces standard. Here’s what OSHA expects from dealerships:
1. Inspect and Maintain Your Ladders
Ladders must be inspected before each use and periodically by a competent person. If a ladder has broken or missing steps, bent rails, loose hardware, oil or grease buildup, or any structural damage, it needs to come out of service immediately. A broken ladder sitting in a corner waiting to be repaired is an injury (and a citation) waiting to happen.
2. Use Ladders the Right Way
OSHA prohibits several behaviors that are unfortunately common in ladder use:
- Standing on the top cap or top step of a stepladder
- Using a ladder horizontally as a makeshift platform
- Using metal ladders near electrical hazards
- Setting up on unstable surfaces
- Exceeding the ladder’s rated load capacity
Employees must face the ladder while climbing and maintain three points of contact at all times, two hands and a foot, or two feet and a hand.
3. Use the Right Ladder for the Job
Not all ladders are created equal, and not all ladders are interchangeable. Using an undersized ladder is one of the most common compliance failures in dealerships. Make sure:
- The ladder is tall enough that no one needs to stand on the top step
- It has the correct duty rating
- Non-conductive fiberglass ladders are used for any work near electrical systems
4. Train Your Team
OSHA requires ladder safety training before employees use ladders, and retraining whenever unsafe use is observed. Training must cover proper ladder selection, inspection procedures, safe climbing techniques, and hazard recognition. Parts staff, technicians, porters, and detail employees should all be included.
How to Make the Most of Ladder Safety Month
Ladder Safety Month is a perfect opportunity to do a few targeted things that will genuinely reduce risk:
Do a full ladder inventory.
Walk the facility and account for every ladder. Check its condition, type, and duty rating. Remove anything damaged or that doesn’t meet industrial standards.
Run a quick training session.
Keep it practical and specific to your environment. Cover selection, inspection, and safe use. Document who attended and when.
Reinforce the basics from leadership.
Three rules, communicated clearly and consistently: never stand on the top step, never use a damaged ladder, always use the right ladder for the job.
How ComplyAuto Safety Helps
ComplyAuto Safety helps dealerships build and maintain a structured ladder safety program, including written safety policies, inspection checklists, training documentation, and OSHA-aligned compliance tools. Our platform makes it easier to identify risks, document compliance, and protect your team before an incident occurs. Schedule a demo to learn more.