Trauma researchers at the Alfred Hospital have begun looking at preventative measures to improve ladder safety following the release of statistics that show one-in-three ladder falls results in severe head injury.

Trauma and orthopaedic surgeon Annette Holian said the number of patients presenting to the Alfred with injury resulting from a ladder fall remained as high as six per month with head and spinal damage the most common outcomes.

Close behind were injuries to the arms, legs, pelvis and chest.

'Because of these consistently high figures, along with the severity of the injury that can easily result, we're keen to look at the circumstances that contribute to ladder injuries and see if we can recommend some preventative measures,' Miss Holian said.

One area being explored was whether seasonal changes were linked to an increase in presentations.

The research is being conducted by Alfred intern Dr Elaine Liew.

'It's our clinical impression that when it rains after a dry spell, we get more of these patients,' Dr Liew said.

'To see if this has a statistical basis, we're in the process of cross-referencing presentations to the emergency department with rainfall statistics from the Bureau of Meteorology.'

Since 2001, more than 230 patients have been treated at the Alfred following a fall from a ladder—most of them male and aged 40-plus.

While most patients eventually returned home, many required extensive rehabilitation and a number did not survive their injuries.