How Healthcare Facilities Can Prevent Falls and Unrestricted Roof Access
- Michele Oras
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Fixed vertical ladders—especially those without cages or gates—are often accessible to anyone. When gates are left unlocked it leaves easy access to tamper with rooftop systems, or vandalize critical infrastructure. When roof hatches are left open, they become a serious hazard: someone can fall through. In healthcare environments, where safety and security are non-negotiable, this creates real liability and leaves your facility exposed—especially after hours.

The Risk: Falls and Unauthorized Access
Fall Hazard
Fixed vertical ladders can be less safe to climb because their design forces the climber’s body into an awkward backward-leaning position, increasing fatigue and the risk of a fall, especially when carrying tools or materials.
Unsafe Transitions at the Roof Hatch
Many roof hatches lack proper handholds or barriers. That makes every entry or exit risky—especially when someone’s carrying tools, navigating snow or rain, or working alone.
Improvised Lifting Methods
When there’s no lifting system in place, teams resort to ropes, hand-hauling, or dangerously awkward climbs with gear. It’s unsafe, inefficient, and preventable.
The Solution: LadderPort Safety Systems
LadderPort offers proven, OSHA-compliant products that eliminate these common risks:
LadderPort Ladder Receiver
Safer Climb: Secures an extension ladder at the proper climbing angle for safer, more stable access.
Controls Access: Installed on the building’s exterior, this bracket only works when a ladder is in place—deterring unauthorized users.
Reduces Liability: No more exposed fixed ladders or risky climbs.
Roof Hatch Grab Bars
Adds Fall Protection: Provides a continuous handhold for safe transitions through the hatch.
Better Than Safety Posts: No obstruction, no fumbling—just secure support.
Retrofits Easily: Works on existing hatches without major changes.
Cranky™ Portable Winch
Safe Lifting, Solo: Allows a single staff member to lift up to 300 lbs. of tools or equipment without manual hauling.
No Ropes or Improvising: Protects your crew and your building.
Designed for Healthcare Environments
LadderPort products are ideal for healthcare facilities because they:
Keep Techs Out of Sensitive Areas: Maintenance teams can access the roof from the exterior, avoiding sterile zones and patient spaces.
Prevent Unauthorized Entry: No more unlocked ladders giving after-hours access to your rooftop.
Reduce the Risk of Injury: Every system is built to minimize fall hazards and support real-world use.
Go Beyond “Compliant”
Real safety means thinking beyond code—and building systems that match the reality of day-to-day operations. OSHA 1910.23 outlines the minimum safety requirements for ladders and walking-working surfaces—but that’s just the starting point. Plenty of healthcare facilities “meet code” and still experience rooftop falls, tool drops, or unauthorized access. Compliance alone won’t prevent accidents.
In healthcare environments, where patient safety and liability are always top of mind, the real goal isn’t just to pass inspection. It’s to prevent incidents before they happen. That means designing for how teams actually work: hauling equipment, navigating weather, and entering the roof quickly—without cutting through sterile zones.
Take Action Before It’s a Problem
Every year, fall-related injuries and security breaches happen on rooftops that “meet code.” But meeting code isn’t enough—especially in healthcare, where the stakes are higher.
LadderPort helps facility managers go beyond compliance and build in practical, everyday safety that actually works in the field—not just on paper.
Don’t wait for a fall or a breach to fix your roof access.
Request a quote from LadderPort to get started with a safer, smarter solution.