Working Safely with Ladders – Using Ladder Accessories Part Three
Ladder accidents frequently happen when the ladder is not set properly. 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. Unfortunately, “proper usage” involves a level, stable surface to set the ladder on, or structure to set the ladder against – with a proper place to tie off the ladder, etc. In the real world, this is rarely the case, and rather than set the ladder improperly, consider using ladder accessories for your situation. The venerable stepladder is by far the most common ladder to work from. Most problems working on stepladders occur from having your tools within reach and secure from falling. Here are a couple of my favorites for stepladders.
First, the Extra Hand Ladder Buddy (found at www.extrahandladderbuddy.com) is an inexpensive (around $20, plus shipping and handling) and simple solution to a modern problem – cordless drills, wrenches, and other small power tools that we seem to can’t live without. Too many workers lay these tools on the stepladder platform and they either get knocked off, or fall off when the ladder is moved. In many cases, the tool, the surrounding area, or the worker is damaged. This simple device attaches to the stepladder’s siderail, allowing for a secure holster for the tool. In some cases, workers have more than one cordless tool, and additional holders may be put on the ladder siderails as desired.
The second ladder accessory is the Ladder Boss (found at www.ladderboss.com). Again, a very simple to use and not too an expensive (from $20 to $50, plus accessories) ladder accessory. This fabric pouch assembly fits over the stepladder top and places a wide array of hand tools at your fingertips around the top of the stepladder platform. In most cases, the Ladder Boss allows for a material and/pr trash bucket to be placed in the pouch. This can make for not only more efficient work methods, less travel time up and down; but may reduce the amount of trash spread across the work area – a hazard unto itself. Unlike the Ladder Buddy, of which there is only one product, the Ladder Boss has a wide array of specialized tool holders and accessory panels that you can add to the base unit, depending on your work.
Remember, ladder accessories can help you transport, set, secure and use your ladder more effectively.
Tags: accessories, ladders, safety