I have used a double A-Frame extension ladder, and it did have splayed feet at the bottom. It was generally easier to position and work with than an open-top, though I did find that you need to extend it higher than you would have needed to for an open-top. To me this meant that a longer A-Frame would be needed to do the same job as a shorter open-top, but that's not a problem.
I was worried it would twist, but it didnt. Indeed, it felt more stable than an open-top, mostly because, as the rubber pad jams into the top corner, it wasn't going to slide sideways the way open-tops do if you lean them on guttering for example. But, just because of personal preference, I liked open-tops better, but only because I was used to using them. Perhaps if I'd used a pointer from the start I'd think they were the best.
My personal opinion is that they are probably safer than open-tops, but from a manufacturers point of view, there is a single important reason why I could see them disappearing:
Practically the only market for pointer ladders is window cleaners. I have never seen anyone use a pointer who is not a window cleaner. Indeed, the Federation's logo is a pointer ladder because its something immediately associated with window cleaning. This is a problem because window cleaners are moving away from ladders and towards water-fed poles.
Yes there will probably always be those who use ladders, and among those will be a proportion who use pointers, but there's no denying the market for them is disappearing fast.
A good set of splayed pointers is considerably more expensive than the same length of open-tops, therefore only the more serious window cleaners would buy them. But window cleaners that are willing to spend more money to get the safest ladder are also the type who will once again put safety first and invest in a WFP system.
There will be a critical point where the number sold per year will drop to a point that it costs more to produce them than the profit they bring in. Ladder companies will see (or already have seen) this coming and will simply discontinue them.
So, not the HSE nor any new regulations will see the end of the pointer, but MARKET FORCE will decide in the end. Ladder manufacturers probably know that pointers are safer and better for window cleaning than open-tops, but if they can't make a profit producing them, then why should they continue?
To give an example of how this has happened before, look at 50ft ladders. These used to be reasonably easy to purchase. Now, you would have to hunt pretty hard to find one. Most ladder manufacturers stopped producing them a long time ago. Why? Because any job where you need to be 50 ft up these days is done using rope-access, which is much safer than balancing on a 50ft ladder. Therefore the market for them no longer exists. New techniques were developed which were safer and more popular.
Open-top ladders however, are used by hundreds of trades, so regardless of what window cleaners decide, they will be around for a long time yet.
Interestingly, the accident statistcs for window cleaners using ladders included in the TWAH proposal document do not distinguish between those that used normal or pointer ladders, therefore there is no concrete evidence that window cleaners who use pointers are any more safe than those using open-tops. Simply approaching the HSE with the comment that pointer ladders are safer will not be enough. You would have to provide verifiable evidence that they are safer in order for them to consider amending the new regulations to specifically mention them.
This would mean commissioning laboratory tests and a broad survey of users (at least 10% of UK users). It would be a considerable project, and even if you successfully completed it, there's no guarantee that the HSE would accept your findings. They may simply say that perhaps they are safER, but they are still not safe enough to be granted any exemption. Or, they might say that pointers fall into their definition of a "LADDER" and are not special equipment, therefore regardless of any evidence you provide, they are still subject to the normal ladder regulations.
Pointers are probably safer than normal ladders, but to defend working on them on the basis that they are not a normal ladder in the face of the TWAH directive is, in my opinion, missing the point completely. The very essence of the document is to avoid working at height where possible.
As I believe that the industry would best be served by as much work-at-height restriction as possible (especially as regards ladders), I would not support any effort to have a special dispensation for pointer ladders. Also, I would consider it highly irresponsible for the federation to try to have more lenient guidelines for these ladders put in place. If this were to happen, the Federation would be responsible for yet more unnecessary deaths in an industry already plagued with an appalling safety record.
-Philip
