Ladder safety devices

[Colin Bignell]

Perhaps they haven't sold many during the pandemic.

I'm glad I have my Class 1 ladders then. 175kg static load and 130kg duty rating.

[John Rumm]

Yup, I would second that. the domestic rated ones feel horrible if you are even close to the weight limit (and still pretty wafty even if not)

[Colin Bignell]

Even more so if the duty rating is a weight loss target ;-)

[John Rumm]

Erm, yes, and DAMHIK!

[Theo]

I'm under the domestic weight limit, but I'm not sure how good they are at dynamic forces (and of course carry stuff up is going to increase the weight).

If I were to invest in a new ladder, what's the opinion on combination ladders, ie this kind of thing:

- they would be easier to store, and the 4 part ones make a horizontal work platform:

or are they too awkward/flimsy?

Theo

[alan_m]

I've only used this type once - the most unsteady piece of crap I've encountered. Each joint will flexed when extended straight.

[williamwright]

If just gives a false sense of security. Assuming the worker's feet are

6 or more metres up it's very difficult for anyone on the ground to prevent a sideways slide once it starts. It can in fact worsen the accident. Far better for the ladder to be secured at the top.

Bill

[williamwright]

Definitely. It's possible to injure feet by all-day standing on a ladder.

Bill

[williamwright]

If they are standing on the bottom rung they have little chance of halting a sideways side. They can reduce the chance of the foot of the ladder slipping backwards but really if there's any possibility of that the foot of the ladder should be secured.

Another very real danger of having someone on the ladder at the bottom is that they can be hit by dropped tools or materials. I witnessed this: a brace and bit that had been hanging on a rung slid down the rungs and went bit-first into the man's shoulder.

Bill

[williamwright]

A quick and easy way is a broad-jawed locking welding clamp on the gutter.

Bill

[Andy Burns]

yep :-(

[John Rumm]

I have the "4x4" one from here:

and to be fair that is quite solid - I have used it as a platform, and also used it as a long L shape to reach past a porch roof (with another ladder lashed onto the bottom to add another 6' or so.

It is not my "go to" ladder for most jobs since it is a bit cumbersome to use, but is solid enough. A slightly smaller one (like the 4x3) would be better for interior use.

[williamwright]

The way to test aluminium ladders if you think they're getting a bit 'tired' is to support the ends of each section separately some distance above the ground and with the section horizontal, and walk across it.

Bill

[williamwright]

In 45 years of daily ladder work I was never tempted by such things, having observed others using them.

Bill

[John Rumm]

Neither was I, until I had a particular use case where it made sense (the need to go up and then along horizontally for a bit). I would not get one in place of a general purpose ladder though. (and if doing the job again, I would probably hire a cherry picker!)

[Rod Speed]

williamwright [e-mail] wrote

Wrong when the holder knows what they are doing. Much easier for a holder to stop the ladder bottom moving sideways than having the person who will use the ladder ensure that can't happen.

But easy to stop it happening by putting your feet outside the ladder.

Only if the holder lets it start moving.

But not that easy to do that initially with just one person doing that.

[Rod Speed]

williamwright [e-mail] wrote

Depends on where it slides. It works fine when the feet are in the dirt and you are stopping the feet sliding.

Or sideways when the feet are on concrete etc.

But quicker and easier to have the holder do that.

Its not that easy to secure the feet when they are on concrete.

[Rod Speed]

williamwright [e-mail] wrote

But that risks significant injury if it does fail when you do that.

[williamwright]

By 'some distance' I meant just a bit more than the max deformation of the ladder. Say 6"...

Bill

[williamwright]

You don't understand the issue. It isn't about the bottom of the ladder moving sideways (that only happens if a car hits it!), it's about the top sliding along the gutter or wall.

No that wouldn't make any difference. Again, you're thinking that the bottom of the ladder is going to slide sideways. It's the top that might do that, if the worker over-reaches and/or if the ladder isn't secured at the top.

Incidentally, securing the ladder at the top does NOT mean that the worker is OK to over-reach. It's more about stopping a gust of wind taking the ladder sideways. That is a real issue. No matter what the prevailing wind, gusts will often run along the face of a building with considerable force. They can be very sudden and highly dangerous.

Bill