Lone working is sometimes unavoidable, and while it's always better to have another pair of hands on the job to help with carrying and setting up equipment, there are times when it's just you and your ladder.  Professional ladder users will be acutely aware of the proper safety precautions to take when setting up and using a ladder, especially if they're alone without someone to call for help if they have an accident.  These users are also very mindful of the injuries and muscle strains that can arise before you've even set one foot on the rungs.

Tall, heavy extension ladders can cause muscle and soft tissue injuries from simply carrying and setting them up; especially when you consider that a standard Werner 4.9 metre professional extension ladder weighs in at just over 23 kilos.  Carrying this ladder requires proper lifting and handling techniques, but when it comes to setting up the sliding extension section you're trying to slide at least 10 kilos above your head at an angle.  It's easy to see how lower back and shoulder injuries can arise just from getting the equipment set up.

Werner have now introduced a patent-pending piece of technology they call GLIDESAFE.  This operation assistive technology reduces the load of extending the ladder by up to 50% using a nifty spring assisted cable system housed inside the stiles of the ladder.  As the user pulls on the cable, the spring releases tension which allows the moving section of the extension ladder to glide up with minimal effort.

The cable is made from the same strong and fray-resistant material that is used in marine sport and parachute applications, so you can be sure that it will take a lot of weight and use without showing any signs of wear and tear for several years.  This type of cord is also designed not to cause friction burns for the user, so it is superior to other types of cable-assisted ladders.

When the extended section is lowered, the cable gives the user total control over the speed, as the moving section descends and puts tension on the spring. This prevents the moving section from crashing back down and trapping fingers or leading to other injuries.  The auto-locking system ensures that whatever height the ladder is extended to, it will not move without the user manually pressing the lock to release it.  A second set of transportation latches means that the ladder can't suddenly extend while it's being moved around, or on a roof rack – every possible aspect of safety has been thought about here.

Although the GLIDESAFE ladders haven't made it across the pond yet, we can't wait to add ladders with this feature to our large selection of Werner ladders and accessories.  We are proud to stock Werner ladders of many types, including telescopic ladders, stepladders, fibreglass models and painters' accessories, all of which have been expertly designed to make any professional trade easier and safer than ever before.

However, if you're currently searching the market for a rope-assisted ladder to help save your shoulders and lower back from extending heavy sliding sections day in, day out, then check out the Lyte rope operated heavy duty industrial ladders.  With lengths from 3.5 to 6 metres there's no job these ladders can't handle, and they are ideal for satellite dish installers and other professionals who work alone but who also need to frequently set up tall ladders to do their work.