Final answer:
The factors contributing to ladder-related falls or fatalities include the forces acting on the ladder, failure to follow usage instructions, and a higher risk amongst certain age groups. This can lead to severe consequences such as head and traumatic brain injuries.
Step-by-step explanation:
There are several factors contributing to falls or fatalities involving ladder usage. High risk groups include young children (ages 0-4 years), adolescents (15-19 years), and the elderly (over 65 years) as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The forces acting on the ladder also play a significant role, these include, the normal reaction force from the floor, the static friction force, the weight of the ladder, and the normal reaction force from the wall.
In addition to this, failure to follow instructions results in a significant percentage of accidents. A safety engineer reported that 35 percent of all industrial accidents in her plant were due to employees ignoring instructions.
Finally, head and traumatic brain injuries, usually resulting from falls, account for approximately 30 percent of all injury-related deaths. Care should be taken to use ladders correctly to avoid such serious consequences.
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