Accidental adult deaths involving ladders: A forensic perspective

Abstract

A retrospective study was undertaken of autopsy cases at the Forensic Science South Australia state mortuary over a 20-year period from January 1999 to December 2018 for all cases aged ≥18 years where a ladder was mentioned in the death scene description and/or police reports. Twelve cases were identified, all of whom were male, with an average age of 56 years (range 21–83 years). The most frequent cause of death was a fall from a ladder ( n = 8; 66%), followed by electrocution ( n = 4; 33%). The falls were associated with deaths from blunt injuries, impalement and laceration. The age range of those who fell was 47–83 years (average 66 years). The three of the four deaths associated with electrocutions involved contact with power lines or live electrical wires; the remaining case involved a sharp metal ladder base cutting through a live power lead. The age range of those who were electrocuted was 21–43 years (average 35 years) – significantly younger than those who had died from falls ( p < 0.05). The increase in mean age of the population with increasing popularity of home maintenance activities may result in more cases of lethal falls involving ladders presenting for forensic assessment.