Never fell but when I was putting up a ladder stand this season, since stolen, I spun around a tree like a squirrel being chased by another. Dang thing shifted on me when I was wrapping the ratchet device around the tree. Boy I learned some quick lessons: always do it with a helper. always make sure legs of ladder are very level and set on solid footing(use a couple of buried cement terrace stones, etc. always wear a safety belt.