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Firefighters have been in the news and on this blog a lot recently, with the strikes against changes to their pension rules and rescues of people and animals alike. The heroics of the fire service were once again called into action on Hastings, East Sussex, when a child had gotten their head stuck. A two-year-old boy, himself a fan of the fire service, had managed to get his head stuck between the rungs of a ladder on his bed - a bed that was (ironically as it turned out) shaped like a fire engine. The emergency services were called in after measures to free the child failed and the professionals were needed to extricate the boy from his fire engine themed bed. No doubt he was delighted to be helped by firefighters! When Ladders Aren't a Safety Feature! There are a handful of different fi..

A ladder as a crucial piece of evidence? The famous case of the Lindbergh baby is still considered by some to be unsolved: there are disagreements over the quality and existence of some of the evidence used to convict Bruno Richard Hauptmann of the kidnap and murder of Charles Lindbergh Jr.  Charles Lindbergh Jr., the 'Lindbergh baby', was found to be missing from his crib at around 10pm on the 1st of March, 1932 in the family home at East Amwell, New Jersey. The body of the child was found on 12th May, 1932 in a nearby township and appeared to have been hastily buried but dug up by wild animals.  A ransom note was found on the windowsill and a chisel and wooden dowel were also found in the grounds of the home.  However, one of the key pieces of evidence was a ladder found in bushes near t..

We have noticed a few people around us up on their ladders doing a bit of maintenance around the home in preparation for the Autumn and Winter seasons and one of those jobs is clearing the gutters and getting them ready for the leaves that fall over the colder months.  Once the leaves and other muck is cleaned out of the gutter, a wire mesh cap over the drainage pipes from the guttering can stop leaves and other debris clogging up the drainpipes.  However, to access the gutters you will need to use a ladder safely! If you are not comfortable or experienced with using ladders, consider asking someone else to do the work at height for you.  The promise of tea and cake as a reward can go a long way in convincing someone!  If there is no one available to use the ladders for you, ensure tha..

Well, actually this is a tale (or tail?) of more than one man and a dog. In Bangor, Maine USA, firefighters rescued a golden retriever from a ledge by a road where it had become stuck. By the time the dog was noticed, it was not such a golden retriever, but rather a muddy one! The dog was being looked after by friends of the owner and they were getting ready to take it for a walk when it slipped out of an open door and took itself for a walk. The caretakers were worried and set out looking for the dog. No one knows exactly where the dog went on its adventure, but it was found about two hours later by a passerby. The dog had clambered up the roadside embankment and was sheltering on a ledge where it had become stuck. Unable to get down, the fire brigade were called in to rescue the poor ..

This year’s Ladder Exchange has been extended by a month, to allow homeowners more time to exchange ladders that they discover are faulty over the Christmas period. For a lot of homeowners, Christmas is the only time they really use a ladder, for putting up lights and decorations, for putting up the tree and for getting seasonal items out of the loft, so it makes sense for the Ladder Exchange to cover this period. Anyone who finds their ladder is not fit for service, whether it is broken, rusted, bent or wobbly, can exchange their ladder for a new one at a discounted price at participating retail outlets. This means more unfit ladders are removed from homes and workplaces, reducing the risk of ladder based accidents. The Ladder Exchange scheme, run by the Ladder Association, has been ..

We get lots of questions about loft ladders so thought we’d write about a few things to bear in mind if you are thinking of getting or replacing a loft ladder. There are really only three main things to consider: 1) how you will be using the loft ladder, 2) who will be using it and 3) the logistics involved (the size of the loft hatch and clearance below the space etc…). Whatever the answer to these questions, there are many models on the market that can be suitable for you – so lets have a look at a few… 1) What is the Loft Ladder For? Firstly, consider how you will be using the loft ladder. If the main purpose of the loft ladder is access to an attic room, then a traditional sliding loft ladder is a great choice, as they are easy to climb and operate. A space saving staircase ..

The Chinese are well known for their ancient military tactics and interest in strategy and logic. If you have ever tried to play “Go”, the board game with black and white counters, then you will be familiar with some of the strategies and ideas used to win, or to disable your opponent. Even chess is considered to be a war game - the perfect war game as there are no outside influences on the outcome: each piece has a set power and this cannot be changed by weather, equipment, political influences or any of the things which affect modern day warfare. Take Away The Ladders One of the famous Sun Tzu’s stratagems is ‘lure your enemy onto the roof, then take away the ladder’. Now this sounds like a dangerous thing to do, as surely then both sides are trapped on the roof with no way o..

The idea of installing a ladder near to the summit of Everest was in the news earlier this year: not such an odd idea when you consider some of the other mountains and peaks which feature ladders and other aids for climbers. The Drakensburg Mountains in South Africa, Carpathian Mountains in Europe and the Acadia National Park in America all feature ladders of some sort as an aid for climbers and hikers. Ladders For Hiking The Drakensburg Mountains are in Royal Natal National Park in South Africa and the most famous part of this range is the Amphitheatre. This natural rock feature is over three miles long and cliff faces, some of which rise more than four thousand feet, sit along the length of the valley. The world's second tallest waterfall, the Tugela Falls, is part of the Amphitheatre'..

The time honoured tradition of initiating new apprentices or the new boy, with requests for fictional equipment is well known and enjoyed by many! This is where some fun is had with ladders as the skirting board ladder is one of the more popular mythical objects that a building/construction apprentice is sent to fetch. The key with these pranks is to invent an object that at first thought, could be real, but then a little further pondering reveals that it's not. The concept of a skirting board ladder is ridiculous: who would actually need a ladder to put up a skirting board?! Some other pranks include sending the apprentice to the stores for a long wait (which sounds like "long weight") or a big stand. The apprentice then gets told to wait where he is while the storesman fetches it for him..

Accidents involving ladders are very common in and around the home, as well as in the workplace when ladders are involved. It is important to consider the health of both the ladder, and yourself. Inspecting Your Ladder In the workplace, ladders are required by law to be inspected at regular intervals, but it is still a good idea to check the rungs for any damage, loosening of the joints between the rung and the stile, rust, cracks, oil or grease anywhere or damage to the safety feet. If a ladder extends, folds or locks then these parts should be checked thoroughly before use. Once you are satisfied that the ladder is safe to use, you should also check how it is set up. A straight ladder should be leaning at the correct angle (a good rule is 4:1, i.e. four metres up the wall to one metre ..