One of the most common misuses of straight, extension and stepladders is not using the right ladder for the job. OSHA safety regulations, contractor safety programs, and ladder manufacturers alike do not require fall protection systems for portable ladders. This is primarily due to the fact that while ladder use is certainly involved in many accidents, it’s simply proper usage of the ladders that will provide a safe working environment. For instance, the material that a stepladder, straight or extension ladder is made from can be critical to ladder safety. Using a ladder of the wrong material may be fatal! Ladder engineers design ladders of certain materials for certain types of work – not paying attention to this is just asking for trouble.

There are three common materials that ladders are made of; wood, aluminum, and fiberglass. Each of these materials have their advantages and disadvantages (see figure 1).

Wood ladders are typically inexpensive, but can be heavy – especially in longer lengths. Wood ladders also cannot take a lot of abuse, quickly wearing out and getting loose. Wood ladders are best used occasionally, gently, and when stored indoors. And while wood ladders are allowed to be used around live electricity, there’s one caveat. Keep in mind that a wood ladder can be electrically conductive when its moisture content is high.

On the other hand, while aluminum ladders can also be inexpensive, their extremely light weight make them ideal for long length ladders and a popular choice for extension ladders in particular. However aluminum ladders are more easily damaged, and even minor damage to the siderails or rungs can make the ladder unusable. And, or course remember that aluminum ladders are metal, extremely conductive, and can never be used around live electricity.

Finally, fiberglass ladders while the most expensive material of the three has several benefits. Fiberglass is best for working around electricity as it is a non-conductive material. Fiberglass is also a very tough material, making for a long lasting ladder. Fiberglass material isn’t as lightweight as aluminum, but is a lighter material than wood and extremely strong. Typically the highest weight rated ladders (Type 1AA – 375 lbs.) are fiberglass ladders.

So, what is the correct material to use for a ladder? Well, OSHA regulations (and for that matter, ladder manufacturers) do not make any recommendations for ladder material. However, both OSHA and ladder manufacturers, along with contractor safety programs prohibit using aluminum ladders when working around live electricity.

Remember, selecting a ladder with an eye for the correct material will help you to work safely on a ladder.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 15th, 2009 at 10:05 am and is filed under safety. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.