The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced a major recall concerning the latter, over 122,000 Werner ladders sold exclusively in Home Depot stores nationwide. The recall was made on August 14, 2025, affecting Werner’s 20-foot and 24-foot models of Multi-Max Pro Multi-Purpose Ladders due to potential fall hazards posed by defective locking mechanisms. There have already been reports of 18 falls, along with 14 injuries associated with the same defect, and consumers are encouraged to cease usage of these ladders with immediate effect.
The dangerous defect being the faulty locking mechanism
A critical safety defect was noticed in the ladders’ locking mechanism that may jam and fail to engage fully or lock into place. Whether this particular failure is the cause of yet another unpredictable fall hazard due to the tower coming down or just shifting with little regard for safety is open to conjecture. Injuries caused by the failure of the locking mechanism included severe bruising, lacerations, injuries to the head, and fracturing of wrists, leg, and ribs. Because the defect allows for an unexpected failure, these ladders are extremely dangerous since the users would have no prior warning before the ladder collapses beneath them.
Models of Werner in focus and their identification
The recall concerns two models of Werner ladder sold from November 2021 to February 2024. The affected models are the ALMP-20IAA (20-foot) and ALMP-24IAA (24-foot) Multi-Max Pro Multi-Purpose Ladders. These ladders can be easily identified by their silver color with the characteristic blue top and a blue label on the side rail. This label displays an oval “Werner” logo next to the “MULTI MAX PRO” text together with the model number. Finally, a common distinguishing feature of all recalled ladders is a long black rope in the back area.
These ladders were sold exclusively at Home Depot stores and online at HomeDepot.com, with retail prices ranging from $200 to $281. The ALMP-16IAA and ALMP-18IAA are currently on the market, but these models have different designs and are not part of the recall.
Immediate action needed: Stop use and seek refund
All consumers who own these ladders, which have been recalled, must immediately discontinue their use and contact Werner for a refund. To receive a refund, one must register at www.wernerco.com/recalls to receive instructions on the proper disposal of the recalled ladder. Following this, upon confirmation from Werner that the ladder was disposed of per their instructions, a check will be sent out as full reimbursement.
For any additional assistance regarding the recall, a consumer can contact Werner at 888-624-1907 from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, or by emailing at [email protected]. The company shall indemnify the consumers for disposal charges and provide full refunds irrespective of the date of purchase of the ladder within the time frame mentioned in this letter.
Injury reports and safety statistics
The extent of injuries tied to this defect emphasizes the urgency surrounding this recall. Werner received 18 reports of falls that have been linked to the failure of the locking mechanism, with injuries reported in about 14 cases, including bruises, fractures, and head injuries of high severity. The types of injuries reported include wrist fractures, leg fractures, rib fractures, head injuries, lacerations, and bruising. The statistics above may represent only a fraction of real incidents, as many falls might go unreported to the manufacturer.
Legal aspects and rights of consumers
Due to the extreme seriousness of the injuries reported, consumers already harmed by these defective ladders might find legal recourse beyond that provided by the manufacturer under the recall. Presently, personal injury attorneys are advising those affected to document their injuries and obtain legal counsel, as claims for product liability may lie against Werner based on a defective design. Consumers are advised to keep any medical records and photographs of injuries, as well as any other material concerning their use of the ladder in the event they suffered injuries as a consequence of one of these recalled models.
This recall should go a long way as a reminder for consumers to check frequently for product recalls, especially for safety products such as ladders that are used at height. Because of the great number of units affected, serious injury claims made by consumers involved, and the unforeseenability of the mode of failure, this is one of the top recalls for ladders in recent years.
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