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Ladder safety

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Penfold
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Ladder safety

Post by Penfold »

Hi all

Had a manager send me this link and asked if he could buy it

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jo ... ety-system

I politely said no, and mentioned how he has scissor lift, and cherry pickers designed to do the tasks he wanted to use it for

Would you allow this to be used in your workplace??
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Re: Ladder safety

Post by danwel »

So if i am reading that right it is basically an add on to allow the user to stand on the top rung of the step ladder ? That has disaster written all over it for me
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Re: Ladder safety

Post by WillPool »

I certainly would NOT allow it, it is an add on that the original designer has not taken into account when making the steps.

In my view it is a strip added on to allow extra hand-holds to allow users to gain access to the top of the steps, the most dangerous part of the ladder, hence why we stop people working from there. Next thing you know if you allow it, folks will be making their own add-ons with broom handles and the like :shock:

The device has no means of stopping people falling, so is 'no less dangerous' (and probably more of a risk) than they were before the device was fitted.

As you said Penfold, there are other better options out there, MEWPS etc. ./thumbsup..

As an aside, it appears they were after funding (on the site) but the funding was unsuccessful, cant think why ;)

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Re: Ladder safety

Post by PaulDonaldson »

It looks a bit complicated in my view. If you already have the correct equipment then why? Oh and couldnt you just buy a bigger set of steps?
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Re: Ladder safety

Post by Alexis »

I have just watched the video of this ladder add-on and the inventor really doesn't mention anything about using it in a working environment.

I do think he has intended this device to be used only for home or DIY usage, not industrial use.

I have to say and speaking for myself and my many teetering antics on the top rung of my household ladder, it perhaps is a good idea. For the home, perhaps, but for industry, a definite no!
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Re: Ladder safety

Post by Penfold »

After watching it a few times and again on linkedin, I can see what they were trying to do but its no use in real world (especially in workplace). The top step isn't designed to be stood on, its a tool rest not a person rest (as a kindly HSE officer described it to me) If ladders have these type of things designed into them the ladder base is part of that design. With these ladders they are designed to be used in the way its designed for and by adding this attachment the footprint of the ladder isn't going to work thus making it unstable. You can see in the video that when the person gets to the top (in the garage) the whole ladder moves.

Also its attached using sticky tape

STICKY TAPE!!!!
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Re: Ladder safety

Post by Safe&Sound »

Watching that first video really made me feel uneasy... especially the self adhesive pads used...

Maybe there's a reason it did not reach its goal ($)..
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Re: Ladder safety

Post by Andyblue »

Have to agree with Alexis and Safe&Sound that it looks like it is intended for the home market and initially thought it may have some credence. But what I had to watch several times is that it's held in place only by some "gaffer" tape. I was expecting it then to describe some form of self tapping screw, bolt or other mechanical fix. But he specifically says there is no mechanical fixing. Whether its home or work that's a scary idea.
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Re: Ladder safety

Post by Jack Kane »

I'm late in to this topic and the link to the video has been taken down, no surprise going by the comments in this topic.

However, I'd like to point people in the direction of the 'get a grip' campaign by the Ladder Association #getagripladder.

They have a really good ladder safety pack including the guide on the EN131 standard which you can download from their site. You need to enter your details but it's worth it.

https://ladderassociation.org.uk/get-a- ... n=getagrip

FAQs on changes to the ladder standards - https://ladderassociation.org.uk/en131/
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