Werner Announces New Visual Safety System Across its Climbing Portfolio

New Visibly Distinct On-Product Design, Color and Communication Upgrades Implemented on Werner Ladders; New Visual Color and Symbol Based Stepladders Recognized By OH&S As Product of Year Award Winner

Itasca, IL, [August 30, 2023] - Werner, the world leader in ladders and manufacturer of climbing products and fall protection equipment, today 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 often for specific product updates as the visual safety system rolls out across the portfolio.

ABOUT WERNER
Werner, a WernerCo Professional brand, is the world leader in ladders and has a complete line of climbing products designed for working at heights. The portfolio includes ladders, scaffolding, pump jacks, stages, planks, accessories and fall protection equipment including harnesses, lanyards, anchors and compliance kits. From ladders to fall protection, WERNER provides a full line of climbing equipment that is engineered for maximum safety, durability and productivity at every height. All Werner products meet or exceed applicable international safety standards. For more information, visit www.wernerladder.com.

ABOUT WERNERCO PROFESSIONAL BRANDS
WernerCo Professional Brands is a privately owned, fully integrated, international manufacturer and distributor of access products, fall protection equipment, secure storage systems and light duty construction equipment. WernerCo's business model and growth is defined by innovation and continuous improvement of the products, processes and services they deliver. WernerCo products are Trusted Everywhere Work Gets Done™! For a full list of industry leading global brands, visit https://www.wernercoprofessionalbrands.com/.

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