Following a 20-week pilot program with Structure Tone, Otto Tech Systems will release their SmartLadder system to combat a leading cause of workplace accidents: falls from ladders.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, falls, slips, and trips were the second highest cause of workplace fatalities in 2022. Ladders are one of the primary contributors to job site falls—ones that organizations such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) say may be preventable.
Motivated by the hazards workers face, Otto Tech Systems developed the SmartLadder. This system includes a technology-integrated modified A-frame ladder, a mobile app, and a portal and reports for management. Following a 20 week pilot program with Structure Tone, Otto is eyeing a 2025 release.
“It struck us that the ladder has remained essentially unchanged for thousands of years,” says Ellen Giuntini, chief executive officer of Otto. “You can find Stone Age cave drawings of ladders that are not significantly different from what we have today. We saw an opportunity to marry today’s technology with the power of data to enhance safety.”
The Otto team connected with Structure Tone early in the process of developing the SmartLadder and recognized an opportunity to collaborate with safety leaders and workers. After an initial test on an Ajax site in Florida, Structure Tone and Otto partnered for a 20-week field pilot in New York City.
The SmartLadder combines real-time audible alerts with onboard data analytics. Sensors detect movement and weight distribution, sounding a warning tone when users approach a tip-over point, exceed weight limits, walk or hop the ladder, or engage in behavior not in compliance with training. Additionally, the wireless- and Bluetooth-enabled ladder continuously captures data and uploads it into a cloud data management system for analysis. The system can even send out SMS alerts to supervisors in cases of severe unsafe behavior.
The goal is that the ladder will not only be used for post-accident analytics, but also to prevent accidents before they happen. “The data provided to project supervisors helps understand what happened yesterday,” Giuntini explains. “But it also identifies tendencies that can be accounted for in planning or daily safety talks. At a larger level, a project manager can look at trends of overall safety and training.”
Since the pilot, one of Structure Tone’s largest clients has specified SmartLadders on an upcoming project. With a plan to offer a limited supply of the 8 foot IAA-rated ladders as production ramps up, Otto is allowing interested parties to pre-register on their website to assess demand. The company is offering a priority spot to Structure Tone subcontractors upon release.
“Ladder misuse is one of the leading causes of accidents on construction sites,” says Keith Haselman, senior vice president of corporate safety for STO Building Group. “Our organization quickly saw the value of partnering with Otto Tech Systems to address this critical issue. Through our pilot, we were able to provide Otto with feedback and data based on real-world conditions. Additionally, we were pleased to see a 20–60% reduction in specific undesired behaviors with ladders on the project.”