For the past few years, DAN has been addressing a problem which has been given too little attention, but one of which all divers, boat owners and handlers should be aware: the potential danger of boarding ladders.

What kind of damage can they do?

Potential injuries range from slight bruising - generally to the hands (but not only, as the prior case has shown), to the traumatic amputation of one or multiple fingers.

Furthermore, badly designed ladders that don’t offer a safe and stable support for feet (when wearing flippers, too) make it easy for a diver to fall as he is getting back into a boat. Accidents like this can also cause severe trauma to the divers below.

What does an ideal boarding ladder look like?

The most dangerous part of a ladder are the hinges, used to fold it back onto the boat during navigation.

The positioning of the ladder to the side of the boat is also important. If it is not well fastened or too mobile, particularly if it’s on the side of the boat, it can oscillate and trap the hands or fingers when the rocking of the boat brings it back against the side.

This occurance is less frequent, but still possible, for ladders on the stern, as the boat can pitch forward forcefully. It is even more likely to happen if the ladder is hinged, or if the spacer between the ladder and the side/stern of a vessel is not of an adequate length.

In the case of a diver falling off a ladder, the design of a ladder and its construction are both factors to be considered. A ladder that is too narrow or short, is not designed to be climbed with flippers, or is made with slippery materials, can constitute additional risks that could be avoided with a correct design.

Always be careful when climbing up ladders, even on your own boat!