Werner announces the introduction of an entirely new visual safety system across their
product line, including Werner Step Ladders, LEANSAFE Ladders, Extension Ladders, and
Podium ladders. This new visual safety system was also recently recognized by Occupational
Health & Safety (OHS) magazine as a winner in the “High Visibility” products category and will
be recognized in the November/December issue of the publication.
Werner products are used on jobsites by professionals who rely on the company’s ladder
innovations and accessories while working at height. The new design enhancements, rolling out
now and through 2024, provide simple on-product safety cues that make it easier to choose the
right ladder, use it correctly and communicate the importance of safety to everyone on the work
site.
“We’ve been on a two-year journey that has culminated in the introduction of new
iconography and a visual color scheme that has never been done in our industry,” said Michael
Melton, Vice President and General Manager for Safe Access Climbing at WernerCo. “These significant changes are based on years of planning, including in-the-field, purchaser and end-user research, which have led us to develop this new, innovative system to help customers better understand ladder safety and application use.”
Visual Colors and Easy-to-Understand Symbols: Promote Culture of Safety – Werner will
use specific colors and symbols to help convey critical information about ladder application and
usage to continue promoting safety on the worksite. Distinct colors and easy-to-understand
symbols that have visual cues and meaning will help employers and employees stay safe. The
new initiative will include standardized rail and label colors for duty ratings, high visibility yellow on ladder tops and bottoms, and an iconographic product and safety labeling system for simpler, multi-lingual communication. This new visual safety system began rolling out in July
2023 and will continue through 2024.
The four key pro-focused user enhancements will include: Duty Rating Rail Color and
High-Impact Labeling: Standardized colors for clear and consistent duty ratings and larger more
visible duty rating labels make it easy for users, safety directors and procurement teams to
choose and identify the right ladder onsite and at purchase. The new duty rating color and
labeling has been added to step and extension ladders.
High Visibility Yellow on Ladder Caps, Tops and Feet: The use of yellow, a primary
color that symbolizes caution and visibility, is the brightest color in the spectrum and widely
used for safety. The high-visibility ladder tops will provide long-range and roofline visibility for
pros working at height. In addition, high-visibility feet on step ladders draw peripheral vision to
ladder feet to avoid kicks or trips. These visual cues signal safety across the jobsite.
Universally Understood Iconographic Product and Safety Labeling: New iconography
provides simpler, multi-lingual communication needs. Specific iconography was developed to
provide a visual based system that would communicate to users who speak any language. These visual icons needed to be easy to see and digest, even at a glance. This new labeling system also links to additional materials as needed using QR codes for multi-language video access and other content for real-time training.
Enhanced Ladder Top Designs for Step Ladders: New ladder tops on the 6200, 6300, and
NXT series will solve unique tool storage solutions for fiberglass step ladders where
professionals need it most. These ladder top enhancements include a patented holder for impact
drivers, carabiner tether points to reduce dropped object injuries, lock in connection receivers for
a wide range of accessories, and tool inserts for a wide variety of professionals’ most used tools.
These new design and communication changes are critical to creating and ensuring safe
working environments. Werner climbing products and platforms will begin to transition in
support of this new initiative, including hundreds of product models/SKU’s. Because this is a
rolling change and the model numbers are staying the same, there will be no disruption to
customer orders during the transition period. Visit wernerco.com for specific product updates as
the visual safety system rolls out across the portfolio.
