Ladder systems keep household and industrial workers at their maximum productivity and utmost safety. A ladder system is not just your traditional make-shift wooden ladders. These climbing systems are made of heavy duty materials put into several durability and safety tests. As the years passed, several companies adopted new technologies to create multi-position ladders to enhance the flexibility, efficiency and safety of workers.
Ladder systems offer different safety and productivity features. Selection of the materials down to the engineering and manufacturing of the components of a ladder system is carefully performed. This is done to avoid any malfunctions while a worker is mounted on a ladder. It has been recorded that around 65,000 people have received emergency treatments annually due to several ladder accidents.
A careless investment on ladder systems can result to serious injuries or worst death of a worker. As the worker ascends or descends on a ladder, it is very important that the ladder is stable and flexible enough to support the worker’s movement.
Let the following information guide you in selecting the best system that will best fit any household or industrial job.
What are the different ladder system types?
- If you are looking for a ladder for home use, check those that are labeled light-duty Type III ladders. This ladder system is usually 3-6 feet long and can carry a maximum workload of 200 lbs.
- Medium-Duty Type II ladders can hold up to 225 lbs of workload. These are ladders that can be a minimum of 3 feet and a maximum of 12 feet long.
- A ladder system labeled as heavy duty Type I are used for heavy duty industrial environment. This system can be from 3 to 20 feet long and can support up to 250 to 300 lbs.
- A workload capacity includes the user’s weight as well as any additional materials or equipment carried by the user.
What are the basic requirements for an approved ladder system?
- The step spacing of a ladder system should be uniform and positioned in a parallel manner. To ensure the worker’s safety, the step spacing should be at a maximum of 12 inches.
- The rails found on the side of a ladder should be kept at a minimum of 11 ½ inches.
- The width of the side rails should be no less than 1 inch.
Basic considerations that a buyer need to keep in mind:
When purchasing ladders made of metals, check for possible dentures, sharp edges or any product defects that can cause injury.
The work that you are going to do is the main consideration in choosing the material of the ladder you will be using. If you will perform jobs requiring you to fix some electrical equipment, aluminum may not be the best ladder to use. This is because aluminum is considered as an electricity conductor.
Choose a ladder system that has slip-resistant steps to ensure footing stability.
Test the stability of the ladder by stepping or jumping on its first step. If it moves, then it is an indicator to move to the next ladder.
Most ladders sold in the market claims that they are the most safe, secure and durable. Some companies may prove this true. At the end of the day, choosing the best ladder system is your call to make!