Stay Safe With Aluminum Ladders: 5 Facts About Lightning Attraction

Whether redecorating, putting items away in storage, or cleaning windows, there are many reasons why you may need ladders. They’re likely an item you have tucked away in your garage or, if a contractor, a tool you carry to and from work.

Although highly beneficial, it’s essential to use this device correctly. Why? Aluminum is a celebrated conductor of electricity, with the risk of lightning striking aluminum ladders a critical safety concern.

To stay safe when using aluminum ladders, we listed five facts about lightning attraction below.

1. Metal isn’t the Sole reason for Attracting Lightning?

Lightning occurs When an electrical charge is in excess in a cloud region. Tall, isolated objects are the most common victims when lightning strikes. These include mountains and trees, as well as various metals. Although a popular misconception, the presence of metal does not play a significant part in where lightning strikes.

Does an aluminum ladder attract lightning? It is not the metal attracting the lightning but the height of the ladders. Why? This natural force is attached to isolated, tall objects irrespective of composition. In a nutshell, it’s not aluminum (although a great conductor) attracting the lightning. But the ladder’s height, location, and surrounding environment. If you are touching a ladder when lightning strikes, you can be electrocuted. Why? Aluminum is one of the best conductors of electricity.

2. Lightning Doesn’t Require Rain or Clouds to be Present

If you’re considering working outside with aluminum ladders, always check the weather forecast instead of relying on the clarity of the sky alone. Lightning can strike more than three miles away from the thunderstorm. Just because you can’t see any thunderstorm clouds or rain in the sky, this doesn’t mean you’re safe. To put this into perspective, in the past, “bolts from the blue” have struck areas over 10 miles away from their thunderstorm origins.

Although storms can affect various regions across the USA, the areas most at risk are the Southeastern states, but this is seasonal. Certain regions, including the Rocky Mountains and Florida (the lightning capital), are privileged to thunderstorms all year round. When choosing where to use an aluminum ladder, location is something to remember.

3. Lighting Strikes Twice

The saying ‘lightning doesn’t strike’ twice is a myth. Lightning can strike the same place over and over again, especially an isolated, tall object, such as a pair of ladders.

Fun fact?

According to the Empire State Building’s website, the iconic building is hit by lightning at least 25 times per year and has been known to have been hit dozens of times in a single storm. Only return to ladders once the storm has passed to ensure your safety.

4. A House is One of the Safest Places to be in a Storm

When a storm is rife outside, being inside is where you should aim to be. Although a safe spot, always avoid being in the line of fire of conducting paths, such as metal objects (ladders), window and door frames, or electrical appliances, including TV cables and wires. Unplugging any expensive tech equipment is a good idea if you know a storm is coming. Although it can be tempting to watch the storm, avoid standing near a window.

5. Being Outside is the Worst Place to be When Lightning Strikes

Being struck by lightning when on a ladder does happen. About 40 million lightning strikes hit the ground in the United States yearly. The odds of being hit by lightning are less than one in a million in a given year, and almost 90% of all lightning strike victims survive.

Factors that put you at greater risk include participating in outdoor recreational activities or working outside; this is possible because males are more likely to be struck by lightning than females.

If you’re unlucky enough to be on an aluminum ladder when lightning strikes, the electricity generated will travel through the aluminum, using it as a conductor to complete its circuit. If your ladder is poised in wet grass and you touch it at the same time the lightning does, your body will become the conductor.
The Bottom Line

Although the probability of being struck by lightning when using ladders crafted from aluminum is low, it’s not unheard of. If unlucky enough to be struck by lightning when using aluminum ladders, the consequences can be severe, including injuries or fatalities.

To ensure you stay safe, understanding the risks is crucial. This will ensure you embrace the correct safety practices when using metal ladders. You may even consider alternative ladder materials for different jobs or seasons, mainly when stormy weather is apparent. Doing so will safeguard you against unnecessary accidents and promote heightened personal safety.

EAN Content

Content shared by this account is either news shared free by third parties or sponsored (paid for) content from third parties. Please be advised that links to third party websites are not endorsed by Estate Agent Networking - Please do your own research before committing to any third party business promoted on our website. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

You May Also Enjoy

Home and Living

Best Budget Smartphones Under $200

In the rapidly advancing digital era, it’s no longer a luxury but a necessity to have a smartphone. Not everyone however needs or is able to pay hundreds of dollars for an expensive device. The good news is that there are numerous budget smartphones under $200 that provide great performance, decent cameras, and a long…
Read More
Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Ten years on: More first-time buyers moving to cities while the coast stands still

New ten-year analysis of the property market shows that more first-time buyers are looking to move to cities, while the coast has seen no growth in new buyers First-time buyer demand to move to Great Britain’s 50 largest cities (excluding London) is up by 16% on average over the last ten years, with Dundee topping…
Read More
Breaking News

Homeowners in England and Wales overvalue their properties by an average of 16%

Homeowners in England and Wales are overestimating the value of their property by an average of 16%, according to new figures. Data from Quick Move Now compares homeowner estimates with formal estate agent valuations and is broken down by both region and property type. Overall, homeowners overvalue in every single category.   Regional breakdown Region…
Read More
Visual blemishes on Roads due to service upgrades
Estate Agent Talk

Emergency Sidewalk Repairs: When to Act and Who to Call

Sidewalks are the unsung heroes of city infrastructure—quietly assisting tens of millions of footsteps every day. But when they crack, disintegrate, or shift all of sudden, they might quickly turn out to be volatile liabilities. In a town like New York, in which pedestrian site visitors are constant and belongings proprietors are legally chargeable for…
Read More
Breaking News

Reapit report reveals agents’ long-term market confidence amid legislative challenges

Despite the significant challenges posed by a shifting economic landscape and the largest wave of housing legislation in decades, estate and letting agents remain steadfast in their confidence about their long-term future in the industry. According to the first Reapit Property Outlook Report 2025, covering the full breadth of sales and lettings agency opinion countrywide,…
Read More
Breaking News

Owner-Occupiers Drive Resilient Commercial Property Market

Buying Becomes 37% Cheaper Than Renting The latest Commercial Property Demand Index from specialist property finance expert, Rangewell, reveals that while investor appetite across the sector held steady in Q2, strong levels of owner-occupied commercial mortgage activity are helping drive market performance, as business owners increasingly move from renting to buying their long-term premises for…
Read More