[M@ttS]

Hi All,

I'm looking into other alternatives to having someone foot the ladder (currently doing trad gutter work). 

Do any of you use any stabalising devices to foot the ladder? 

Ive seen this on ebay : http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ladder-Stabilizer-/250850775124?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3a67df1054

what are your thoughts?

I have the standoff for the top section for stability, but looking for something to keep the bottom steady.

Thanks

[bobby p]

the only device i tried was a LADDERMAT.  heres my warning,it suddenly slid out on me and i fell the full drop/    i survived by sheer luck

 i contacted the inventor and he then got a bit shirty with me because i posted on the forums about what happened. then other forum posters wrote telling of other near misses when these devices fail, 

 lord knows, if you die  theres no proof to tell what happened on the day the "safety gizmo "  turned out to be total Sh/t 

[Scoop]

The only time I feel safe on a ladder is when there is someone footing it. I know loads of people who still do ladder solo but I wouldn't.

The worst thing about ladder accidents is that they can happen to the most experienced ladder users. In the old days ladder accidents were accepted in the same way that coalminers used to die in the mines. Now we are all trying to be abit more careful so please take extreme care and keep someone footing your ladder. The upside of ladder solo is cost saving. The downside is death or extreme injury.

If this poses a cost problem then put your prices up or stop using ladders.

In my opinion - stay safe.

[vallery]

I don't see how this device is going to make the ladder more stable. I'm sorry but I would trust it to keep me alive.

[GB Window Cleaning]

if i feel the ground is slippy i dont do it! or use a 25 ltr barrel

[vallery]

I meant that I wouldN'T trust it. It's my mistake. I agree with you it would be better to use a barrel instead of any type of ladder.

[garyo76]

I used one of these when trad.
http://www.ladderm8.co.uk/
still have in van for occasional use. Case can also be used indoors on wood or tiles

[vallery]

This looks more useful than a barrel.

[Richy essex]

i am new to window cleaning but have used ladders  at work in other jobs for a long time i have had loadsa near misses bt every time i can say its because i was doing something silly now im older and wiser im more carefu!!! i think sometimes some over exagerate hw dangerous they are and i think the best way to go is to keep it simple i work trad and solo and i dont see the problem ( yes id love to go wfp bt due to funds i cant at mo) as long as ur careful and your ladder is at correct pitch with good footing etc you just know when ur safe and when your not and now i dont take any chances if its slippery etc i dont go up .  in my opinion i dont feel that doing guttering solo is a good idea iv done it a couple of times and its dodgy as  hell on ur own!!  i nw turn it down unless it is low level  becos in my opinion it is to risky i have also looked at the rojak ladder device but come to the conclusion that it would give me a false sense of security i do have a stabaliser bar on the bottom of my ladder which i think does help : :

[dave f]

hi surch thru some posts on here about 3 months ago there was a post on how to make your own gutter vac for under 100 quid a small price to pay to stay alive i made one of these guttter vacs in half an hour basicly its a wet and dry vac from lidle some micro waste pipe 3 sections 4 jubilee clips tape, hay ho one gutter vac they are some pics if you get stuck hope this helps