[rosskesava]

There's 3 of us who work together and although we use wfp we still use ladders when the job needs that or where is it practicle and safe to do so according to current legislation.

One area of information I cannot find anything about is the life span of a ladder or as to whether a ladder is still safe to use or not in terms of metal fatigue and just how can you know if a ladder is at that point of failing.

I have read on H & S websites that ladder failure is very, very rare but still I have concerns.

We still have a 3 section ladder and to my mind, it now bends a bit to much for my liking but the other two I work with say it is still safe other wise the company who made it would have gone bust a long time ago and a ladder lasts a life time.

Before anyone says discard ladders and use wfp, we have a gutter clearing job which is within the WAHL's and will require the use of a 3 section ladder. I cannot really go into details here as it would be to long to write.

Anyone got any idea's just as to how to know if a ladder is safe or not mechanically?

Cheers and thanks.

Ross

[Moderator David@stives]

I dont think there is a test you can do only a visual one.
On my first ladder the same as a bt ladder after 2 years the bottom rung snapped clean off as i took the first step .Lucky it was the bottom one.
I think i stressed that one by jumping on it everytime i put it on grass or soft ground for it to dig in.
But i could never trust a ladder more than  2 years old from now on

Dave

[dai]

Ross, I had a very lucky escape once with a triple extender. The ladder had blown over some months before and had left a small dent on the underside of the bottom section. I was on it one day and it didn't feel right, on examination it had cracked from the dent and down both sides. A mate of mine had one break under him [lucky no injury]. He had a ladder rack on his trailer. it snapped where the ladder had been in contact with the rack. I also had a ladder made by one, if not the leading manufacturer. It had square rungs. these rungs became a sloppy fit in a very short time. A client of mine, who's duties included inspection of fire service ladders, told me he had scrapped better ladders.
 I had to take it back to the retailer who exchanged it for a LYTE
ladder. This has been excellent, rigid and robust. Inspect them. Any dents disscard them. I have used wooden ladders with alloy rungs for every day work since, still do if I can't WFP them DAI.

[H h20]

If my (now redundant) ladders were anything to go by then not very long,i lost count how many times i forgot to tie them on  and you can guess the outcome,good job i got wfp now,Gaz

[pjulk]

I have one Ali ladder i have had for the past 15 years and still going strong just changed the feet a couple of times.

Its a commercial ladder with like half moon rungs and open top.

Only 3 mtrs but has been a really good ladders.
About 10 years ago it blew over and hit a customers wall and dented the top section a bit but unless i extend it right to the top its ok just bit tight when i extend it fully

The 3.5 mtr A frame i bought last year is no where as well built as my older ladder and can only see it lasting a few years.


Paul

[Stephen@Belper]

I always retire my ladders at 2 years and get a new one. although now I only use them on one job a month where the pole doesn't reach over a large flat roof so they will last a lot longet now.

[ian davison]

Just read my method statment and it said that ladders should be checked by inspectors and passed off.

Also each seperate section should be stamped with an i.d code so they cant be mixed up.

[rosskesava]

Thanks for all the above.

Tomorrow, that horrible bending ladder goes to that great scarap yard in the sky and hopefully, account balance permitting, we'll buy a new one.

Either that or the job won't get done. Simple as that.

Cheers