An employee was exiting a rock crusher and getting onto a 6-foot step ladder. He was holding onto the handrail while getting his feet onto the ladder. His feet were on the second rung from the top when the ladder kicked out from underneath him. He held onto the handrail momentarily and then fell 4 to 5 feet to the ground (gravel pad), breaking his left wrist and suffering a small compression fracture in his lower back. He was hospitalized.