초록
Portable ladders are normally used both as an access tool for ascending and descending and as a platform for high place work. Though convenient, such usages make the portable ladders vulnerable to fall accidents. For this reason, many safety systems such as regulations and certifications are implemented to prevent fall accidents of portable ladders. However, nevertheless of those safety systems in Korea, annual death tolls of ladder fall accidents has remained high, and which suggests modification and improvement of the portable ladder related safety systems in Korea. The aim of this study is to propose directions for improving safety systems to effectively prevent fall accidents of portable ladders. To this end, comparative analysis on safety systems implemented in Korea and other countries including Japan, USA and UK are conducted to investigate the problems of Korean safety systems. Based on the analysis, limitations of Korean safety systems to prevent ladder fall accidents are discussed and tasks to overcome the limitations are proposed. Once implemented, the proposed tasks would contribute to prevent ladder fall accidents effectively.