Blog

Little Giant launches new Leveler ladder

Wendy Rudd May 04, 2018 0

Little Giant have built a great reputation for innovation in the field of height access solutions and impeccable build quality, and their Classic model is a fixture in many homes and trade vans. Now they have improved the safety credentials of their multi use ladders by bringing out the Leveler, an a-frame articulating ladder which can be used in many configurations with leg levelers built in to each leg.The integrated levelling features provide seven inches of adjustment and a ratchet style operation, with spring adjusted locks giving the user full control over the position of the levelling legs at all times. Uneven ground and varying surface levels are no longer a problem requiring additional accessories which saves time spent on setting up your equipment, and removes any worry that th...

Buying your first ladder? Here's what you need to know

Wendy Rudd April 20, 2018 1

Buying your first ladder (or set of ladders) may not be the biggest financial decision of your life – compared to buying a car or a house it is a small capital outlay and probably won't be a feature of everyday life. Although the purchase of a ladder is not of the same magnitude as big purchases, like property, it is nevertheless a decision which should not be taken lightly, as the incorrect use of a ladder, or the use of a ladder that is not fit for the job you are attempting can lead to serious, and even fatal accidents.To ensure you choose the best ladder or ladders for your requirements it is helpful to jot down a list of the jobs you might use a ladder for. It might help to walk around the house, inside and out, as you compile the list to ensure you have covered every possible ladde...

Front line paramedics issue warnings on ladder safety

Wendy Rudd April 06, 2018 0

Twelve people were hospitalised in separate incidents involving ladders in Victoria, Australia as they prepared their homes ahead of storms. The emergency services received the calls between 7.51am and 7.36pm, which is effectively one incident per hour.Nearly all of the injuries were sustained while people were using ladders to clear out their gutters ahead of the expected deluge, although one person was pruning a tree in preparation for the high winds.Although no details have been issued about the exact reasons behind the falls, it is reasonable to assume that the impending storm was a factor in making people work faster and cut corners. When people are up against the clock, safety is often the first thing to lapse as the focus is on speed. Over reaching is one of the biggest causes of...

UK's tallest firefighter ladder is in Hertfordshire

Wendy Rudd March 30, 2018 0

The UK's tallest Aerial Ladder Platform (ALP) has recently been received by Stevenage Fire Station as an upgrade to their old 30 metre ladder platform, which will remain in service. The new ladder has a vertical height of 45 metres, and a horizontal reach of 25 metres. These factors mean that the extra height capabilities will make fighting attic fires much easier as the fire engine can be parked in a different street and the ladder reach used to get over the top of smaller buildings. The ladder platform can also be lowered down to seven metres below ground making it ideal for all types of rescue operation, as well as fire fighting in extreme conditions.The platform, or cage, at the top is capable of holding many more people than previous models and can even hold a wheelchair. More peo...

New ladder stabiliser invented by construction veteran

Wendy Rudd March 23, 2018 0

55-year-old Robert Loucks has been in construction all his working life, and ladders have featured heavily in his work; he has first-hand experience of falling off a ladder and has spent several years pondering a solution to the problem of unstable ladders. Although he has been formulating the idea for 15 years, his impending retirement has seen him spring into action with designing and patenting his ladder stabiliser, which he hopes will give him a comfortable retirement income.His ladder stabiliser comprises of a bracket which mounts to the side of a house and clips on to the rungs of any straight ladder, keeping it firmly in place at the base. When the ladder is affixed it cannot move at the base, meaning it cannot move at the top either. The bracket can be angled from side to side, ...

Safer loft access

Wendy Rudd March 09, 2018 0

Getting stored items in and out of the attic is a job normally reserved for a weekend or another free day, when adequate care and attention can be given to the task at hand. Climbing a ladder is never a risk-free endeavour, but when you are also carrying items up or down with you it is impossible to maintain three points of contact with the ladder, making it much more dangerous. For this reason, it is vital that you take your time and have another person present to hand you items and take them from you, reducing the amount of time you are not in proper contact with the ladder. Having a safe and sturdy loft ladder makes storage retrieval much safer, and ideally your loft ladder will have a handrail and a less acute angle than a standard straight ladder. That angle can make all the differ...

Paramedic designs ladder stabiliser

Wendy Rudd March 02, 2018 0

Health professionals are often the first people to deal with the aftermath of a ladder accident and they see so many, that they are often more well equipped to make safety improvements than ladder designers, seeing first-hand what actually goes wrong in the real world. A paramedic, in Australia, has designed a safety accessory for extension ladders that will make them safer for domestic users and reduce the number of accidents caused by ladders being improperly secured at the top. David Kay came up with the initial concept around 16 years ago, but was astounded to learn that no-one else had dreamt up the same notion when he recently started serious work on prototypes and patents with engineer friend Daniel Seidel. The Lacket, as it is called, affixes to the ladder and can be left in plac...

Why checking your ladder regularly is a good idea?

Wendy Rudd February 23, 2018 0

A 61-year-old woman from New Hampshire, USA, had a scary experience recently when her pool ladder broke leaving her stranded in the water for three hours. Leslie Kahn had been enjoying a dip in her back garden when the ladder broke as she tried to exit the pool. She injured her knee in the accident and could not get out of the pool unaided. After realising she was stuck, she used a pool skimming net on a long pole to reach her iPad, which was on a recliner near to the pool. She posted a message on social media, alerting friends and neighbours to her plight and was rescued by neighbours shortly before the police arrived, also having been alerted thanks to her Facebook message. Sadly, it is not uncommon for people to incur injuries or become stranded (perhaps on a roof or in a swimming p...

When is a ladder not a ladder?

Wendy Rudd February 16, 2018 0

A ladder is a means of accessing something which is at height: whether that is a window or guttering to clean, a high shelf or cupboard, or even a roof terrace, or attic conversion. The humble ladder is the obvious choice for reaching destinations that are located high up, but sometimes there is a better way, especially in the case of loft conversions, mezzanine floors and roof terraces. Instead of using a ladder, a spiral or spacesaver staircase could be the answer; allowing for access but in a more comfortable manner than by a ladder. In a home setting, you may well encounter guests who are nervous about climbing ladders and you would not want them to miss out on the fun of your roof terrace or entertainment area, so a spacesaver staircase is the best solution. They are also easier f...

Ladder roof racks

Wendy Rudd February 09, 2018 0

A recent viral video showed two men in Florida transporting a ladder on their car. Unremarkable, you may think, until you see the clip. They don't have a roof rack, but instead both men are sitting on the same side of the car, one behind the driver. They both have an arm out of the window, holding the ladder down on the roof. It seems that they had a good grip because there are no reports of a ladder being found on the road; given the high number of such incidents, it is quite something that they did not accidentally let go and send the ladder flying in to traffic.A roof rack is essential for transporting a ladder. Without one it is impossible to properly secure your ladder to the outside of the vehicle, which may get you in trouble with the police. Simply tying a ladder to the frame...