American Ladder Institute

What American Ladder Institute does

The American Ladder Institute (ALI) is a not-for-profit trade association founded in 1947, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, that promotes safe ladder use and represents the common business interests of ladder manufacturers, component suppliers, and allied organizations across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. ALI is the only ANSI-accredited standards developer serving as secretariat for the Accredited Standards Committee A14, which produces a portfolio of ladder safety standards (A14.1 wood, A14.2 metal, A14.3 fixed, A14.4 job-made, A14.5 reinforced plastic, A14.7 rolling, A14.8 accessories, A14.9 attic stairways, A14.11 stepstools) on a five-year renewal cycle, with A14-conformant ladders accepted by OSHA. The organization operates the free Ladder Safety Training platform at laddersafetytraining.org, delivering modular, ladder-type-specific multimedia training in English and Spanish with a Trainer's Toolbox dashboard for enterprise assignment and tracking, and an ALI Safety Ambassador recognition program requiring 80% workforce certification. Each March ALI spearheads National Ladder Safety Month, an industry-wide awareness campaign founded in 2017 and entering its 10th anniversary in 2026, anchored on four weekly themes and tiered sponsor packages.

ALI's revenue model combines recurring tiered membership dues (Regular Manufacturer, International Manufacturer, Associate, Affiliate, Alliance, and International Alliance tiers, all Board-approved), one-time standards document sales (PDFs at $275-$295, with printed versions and subscription licensing distributed through partner distributors including the ANSI webstore, Accuris/Techstreet, Intertek Inform, IHS Global, and SAI Global), one-time training module bundle sales through the ALI online store (English and Spanish; Single/Extension/Telescoping, Stepladder, Articulated, Mobile, and All-Four Packages), tiered National Ladder Safety Month sponsorships (Top Cap, Middle Rung, First Rung) reaching a 23,500+ contact database, and direct enterprise LMS licensing of training content. Day-to-day operations are managed by association management firm Thomas AMC through an Executive Director (Susan Orenga), Account Executive (Joe Zgrabik), and Client Services Administrator (Savannah Maldonado). ALI complements its commercial activities with a biennial Ladder Safety Training and Citations Survey (editions 2016, 2018, 2020, 2024, 2026) and strategic alliances with NIOSH, NSC, OSHA, CPSC, IWCA, PDCA, NRCA, SPRI, ASHI, PCA, and The Ladder Association UK.

Name

American Ladder Institute

Legal name

American Ladder Institute

Website

https://americanladderinstitute.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The American Ladder Institute is a 1947-founded not-for-profit trade association that develops ANSI A14 ladder safety standards, offers free online training, and runs National Ladder Safety Month for ladder manufacturers and end users in North America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Association Safety Standards

NAICS

Apprenticeship Training (611513)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Skilled Trades, Safety & Compliance Certification Prep (OSHA, HAZMAT, welding, electrical, HVAC) (EDANAIAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Working at Heights, Fall Protection & Scaffolding (EDABAEAH)

Keywords

• Ladder safety standards
• ANSI ladder certification
• Occupational safety training
• Ladder manufacturing association
• Safety training modules

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Standards Document Sales: Sale of downloadable PDF editions of A14 ladder safety standards (e.g., A14.7 listed at $295.00); previous editions available for $275 USD; printed versions and subscription licensing routed through partner distributors (ANSI, Accuris, Intertek Inform, IHS, SAI Global).
2. Training Module / Video Sales: Sale of downloadable training module bundles (Single/Extension/Telescoping, Stepladder, Articulated, Mobile ladder packages, plus All Four Packages) in English and Spanish, with LMS licensing available for direct enterprise contracts.
3. Membership Dues: Tiered membership structure (Regular Manufacturer, International Manufacturer, Associate, Affiliate, Alliance, International Alliance) with separate application forms and Board of Directors approval; supports core operating revenue for the not-for-profit.
4. National Ladder Safety Month Sponsorships: Tiered sponsorship packages (Top Cap, Middle Rung, First Rung) sold annually to manufacturers, trade associations, and safety organizations, including dedicated email blasts (23,500+ contacts), social media promotion, press releases, and website placement.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The American Ladder Institute (ALI) is a not-for-profit trade association that serves as the ANSI-accredited secretariat for the Accredited Standards Committee A14, developing and maintaining ladder safety standards (A14.1, A14.2, A14.3, A14.4, A14.5, A14.7, A14.8, A14.9, A14.11). It operates a free online Ladder Safety Training platform at laddersafetytraining.org with modular training by ladder type and a Trainer's Toolbox dashboard, runs National Ladder Safety Month every March, and offers a Safety Ambassador certification program for organizations whose employees complete the training.

Product overview

American Ladder Institute (ALI) operates as a platform-style not-for-profit association whose offerings span a free core training platform (Ladder Safety Training at LadderSafetyTraining.org), an annual awareness campaign (National Ladder Safety Month at LadderSafetyMonth.com), the ANSI-accredited A14 ladder safety standards portfolio, the Safety Ambassador recognition program, a transactional Online Store for standards PDFs and offline training videos, and a biennial Ladder Safety Training and Citations Survey/report. The Ladder Safety Training platform is composed of individual ladder-type modules — Single/Extension/Telescoping, Stepladder, Articulated, and Mobile — which together form the curriculum required for the Safety Ambassador designation. A downloadable resource library of posters and checklists complements the training, while the A14 standards, developed through ALI's secretariat role for the Accredited Standards Committee A14, serve as the underlying technical specifications governing safe ladder design, construction, testing, and use.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• National Ladder Safety Month: Annual campaign spearheaded by ALI and observed each March to promote ladder safety at home and work; operated via dedicated website laddersafetymonth.com.
• Ladder Safety Training
• ALI Safety Ambassador Program

Products and services

• A14 Ladder Safety Standards ANSI-accredited safety standards covering portable wood, metal, reinforced plastic, fixed, job-made, rolling ladders, ladder accessories, disappearing attic stairways, and stepstools. Available as downloadable PDFs and printed editions through partner distributors.
• Ladder Safety Training (LadderSafetyTraining.org) Free, self-serve multimedia online training platform organized by ladder type with scored test questions and certificates of completion, available in English and Spanish, with a Trainer's Toolbox dashboard for enterprise assignment and progress monitoring.
• Single, Extension & Telescoping Ladder Safety Training Training module bundle covering selection, care, and safe use of single, extension, and telescoping ladders, available in English and Spanish with scored test for certificate of completion.
• Step Ladder Safety Training Training module bundle covering selection, care, and safe use of stepladders, available in English and Spanish with scored test for certificate of completion.
• Articulated Ladder Safety Training Training module bundle covering selection, care, and safe use of articulated (multi-configuration) ladders, available in English and Spanish with scored test for certificate of completion.
• Mobile Ladder Safety Training Training module bundle covering selection, care, and safe use of mobile ladder stands and mobile ladder stand platforms, available in English and Spanish with scored test for certificate of completion.
• Safety Ambassador Program Recognition program for organizations whose at least 80% of ladder-using employees pass the four required ALI Ladder Safety Training modules, or which incorporate ALI training into their LMS. Qualifying organizations receive an exclusive logo, website listing, and marketing toolkit promotion.
• ALI Online Store Direct e-commerce storefront selling downloadable Ladder Safety Training video module bundles in English and Spanish (Single/Extension/Telescoping, Stepladder, Articulated, Mobile, All Four Packages) and PDF copies of A14 standards for offline use.
• Ladder Safety Training and Citations Survey Biennial survey targeting safety training managers to capture statistics on ladder citation frequency, citation types, fees, injury types, and preferred methods of ladder safety education; results compiled into a published report (editions in 2016, 2018, 2020, 2024, 2026).
• Ladder Safety Resource Library Collection of free downloadable safety resources including the Ladder Safety Checklist and Ladder Safety Posters (in standard and large sizes), designed for posting in workplaces to promote accident-free operations.

Quantifiable outcome

• ALI's Ladder Safety Training reached millions of people each year during National Ladder Safety Month (per ALI Influences Millions with Ladder Safety Messaging press release).
• +2 more outcomes

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship (regulatory/agency), flagship (industry co-promotion), flagship (standards accreditation), core (regulatory/agency), core (alliance member), core (international alliance member), core (standards distributor), core (association management), minor (trade press) and core (wire distribution).

• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)flagship (regulatory/agency)Strategic or Co-development PartnerLongstanding partnership with NIOSH involving safety research and testing. ALI actively collaborates with NIOSH to represent the interests of the ladder industry. NIOSH is part of the CDC within HHS.
• National Safety Council (NSC)flagship (industry co-promotion)Strategic or Co-development PartnerALI actively collaborates with the NSC and observes National Safety Month with them (May 2019 press release). Located in Itasca, IL; NSC's mission is eliminating preventable deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the road.
• American National Standards Institute (ANSI)flagship (standards accreditation)Strategic or Co-development PartnerALI is a standards developer accredited by ANSI and serves as the secretariat for the Accredited Standards Committee A14. ANSI also acts as a distribution partner selling ALI A14 standards through its webstore.
• Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)core (regulatory/agency)Strategic or Co-development PartnerALI actively collaborates with CPSC to represent the interests of the ladder industry. CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of consumer products.
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)flagship (regulatory/agency)Strategic or Co-development PartnerALI actively collaborates with OSHA; ladders built to ASC A14 standards are compliant with and accepted by OSHA. OSHA publishes fact sheets that ALI redistributes on its resources page.
• International Window Cleaning Association (IWCA)core (alliance member)Strategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance member of ALI; IWCA was the Secretariat of the 2001 ANSI/IWCA I-14 Window Cleaning Safety Standard. Cross-promotes ladder safety with window cleaning industry; member of Alliance organizations that support ALI's mission.
• Painting Contractors Association (PCA)core (alliance member)Strategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance member of ALI; PCA is a longstanding nonprofit advancing the painting industry with 140+ years of experience. Cross-promotes ladder safety with painting contractors; alliance organization supporting ALI's safe ladder use mission.
• Painting and Decorating Contractors of America (PDCA)core (alliance member)Strategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance member of ALI; PDCA is referenced as a partner alliance in the Member Benefits page. Cross-promotes ladder safety with painting and decorating contractors.
• National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA)core (alliance member)Strategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance member of ALI; NRCA has been the home for roofing professionals since 1886. Cross-promotes ladder safety within the roofing industry, where ladder use is integral to work.
• Single-Ply Roofing Industry (SPRI)core (alliance member)Strategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance member of ALI; SPRI is a nonprofit trade association of commercial roofing industry experts, providing standards development and technical guidance.
• American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI)core (alliance member)Strategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance member of ALI; ASHI was founded in August 1976 and created the Standard of Practice used by home inspectors in approximately 36 U.S. states and all Canadian provinces.
• The Ladder Association UKcore (international alliance member)Strategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Alliance member of ALI; UK-based not-for-profit lead industry body promoting safe use of ladders and stepladders, working with the HSE and the Access Industry Forum (AIF) and administering the LadderCard training scheme.
• Accuris (formerly Thomson Reuters Techstreet)core (standards distributor)Channel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributes ALI A14 ladder safety standards for printed versions and subscription licensing services alongside ANSI and IHS Global.
• Intertek Informcore (standards distributor)Channel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributes ALI A14 standards for printed versions and licensing services.
• IHS Globalcore (standards distributor)Channel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributes ALI A14 ladder safety standards for printed versions and subscription licensing services.
• SAI Globalcore (standards distributor)Channel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributes ALI A14 ladder safety standards for printed versions and licensing.
• Thomas AMCcore (association management)Implementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAssociation management firm providing staff and operational support for ALI; Susan Orenga (Executive Director), Joe Zgrabik (Account Executive), and Savannah Maldonado (Client Services Administrator) all use @thomasamc.com email addresses.
• Roofing Contractor (publisher)minor (trade press)GTM or Marketing PartnerTrade publisher covering ALI's launch of the 2026 Ladder Safety Training and Citations Survey as part of National Ladder Safety Month.
• BusinessWirecore (wire distribution)GTM or Marketing PartnerPress release wire service used by ALI for distributing National Ladder Safety Month announcements, including Feb 2026 and Oct 2025 releases.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• National Safety Council (NSC): Itasca, IL-based nonprofit focused on eliminating preventable deaths at work, home, and road. ALI is an active collaborator; comparable as a broader occupational and consumer safety organization that overlaps with ALI's ladder safety mission.
• American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP): Global professional society for occupational safety and health practitioners. Comparable as a broader EHS membership organization whose members consume ladder safety training resources.
• Underwriters Laboratories (UL): Safety certification organization with standards and testing for consumer and industrial products including ladders. Comparable as a competing safety-standards and certification body with broader product scope.
• American National Standards Institute (ANSI): Accreditor of ALI and operator of a broader standards development ecosystem. Comparable as a standards accreditation body but operates across all industries, not specialized to ladders.
• ASTM International: Global standards development organization covering construction, safety, and consumer products. Comparable as a competing standards platform with overlapping safety and ladder-adjacent committees.

Others

• Painting and Decorating Contractors of America (PDCA): Trade association for painting and decorating contractors. Comparable as an Alliance member of ALI; an adjacent industry association whose members are heavy ladder users and ALI partners on ladder safety promotion.
• National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA): Trade association for roofing professionals (founded 1886). Comparable as an Alliance member of ALI; an allied trade association whose membership base overlaps with major ladder users in construction.
• International Window Cleaning Association (IWCA): Trade association for the window cleaning industry and Secretariat of the 2001 ANSI/IWCA I-14 Window Cleaning Safety Standard. Comparable as an Alliance member of ALI; an adjacent industry body that also develops ANSI-accredited height-safety standards.

Regional players

• CSA Group: Canadian standards development and testing organization. Comparable as a North American standards body with adjacent ladder/access product standards and regional overlap with ALI's Canadian membership.

Direct peers

• The Ladder Association: UK-based not-for-profit industry body promoting safe ladder use, working with the HSE and Access Industry Forum, and administering the LadderCard training scheme. Directly comparable to ALI as a national ladder industry trade association with standards and training mandates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=v8HcLhPbv3c
• Xx.com/American_Ladder
• Facebookfacebook.com/AmericanLadderInstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-ladder-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about American Ladder Institute