We've looked at artistic interpretations and applications of ladders in the past on this blog, and there have been several high profile installations and events dedicated to the humble structure.  It is often used as a metaphor for progress, from children's board games to symbolising the purchase of property or career progression.  The depiction of ladders in art through human history shows proof of their importance to people at all stages of historic cultural development.  In the modern day ladders are often found as sculptures; Charlie Brouwer is prolific in his use of them as components of an installation which represents the community and there have also been installations by other [...]

Chicken ladder is the way in and out of the coop, and there are some models that are supposedly fox proof, although those wily creatures will find a way in if they are determined to do so.  Most chicken ladders are planks of wood with dowels laid across to provide some traction for the birds as they go up and down.  The fox proof models are more akin to a rudimentary ladder with rungs fixed to a single, central stile.  Foxes find the basic models very easy to climb, but the fox proof model is supposed to be very hard for them to navigate.   Chickens are using these special ladders [...]

A luxury cruise is a trip of a lifetime; they don't come cheap but the experience is unmatched by any other type of holiday.  With a wide variety of bars, restaurants and entertainment holidaymakers can visit a different part of the ship every day and still have a unique experience at every turn.  Some cruise ships lay on the type of shows you would expect to find at a Las Vegas hotel – Cirque du Soleil are performing on the MSC Meraviglia, with two scaled down versions of their theatre show adapted for the smaller space they have on the luxury liner.   One of the acts in the show involves [...]

The Great British Summer is always beset by rainy patches but that just means we have to make the best of the sun while it's shining.  Here are just a few of the ways you can use your step ladder to have a fun summer.   If you have an old step ladder that is destined for the scrapheap, then take a moment to consider how else you could re-purpose it.  Step ladders make good impromptu shoe racks, so it could be deployed to the corner of the porch or garage to tidy away wellies, sandals and trainers, that would otherwise be left in a pile.  Wellies you don't use very [...]

Why Little Giant?   Hal and Brigitte Wing built their company on a strong foundation — the guiding principle that every rung, every rivet, and every weld matters because every person matters. This principle is the reason Little Giant continues to innovate and improve climbing equipment today. Many have asked us why we invest so much into research and development. The simple answer — we are in business to prevent injuries and save lives. Every day nearly 2,000 people are injured while using a ladder. Nearly 100 of them suffer a long-term or even permanent disability. And every day one person dies, never returning home to family and friends. These numbers are staggering [...]

When the sun shines and the grass finally stops growing, it's time to turn our attention to outside decoration and maintenence. For most of us this means getting out that old shakey ladder and heading skywards with sander, brush and paint pot to tackle the painting jobs we've been putting off all year. Or perhaps it's the gutters that require a clean out, there's always plenty to do when the weather eventually picks up. But it's not easy or indeed safe tryng to work for long periods with both hands free on a ladder... and where on earth do you put everything, paint pots are heavy and there are only so [...]

When it comes to tackling out of reach jobs around the garden, tripod ladders are becoming ever more popular and rightly so. Most of us need a little help reaching higher jobs in the garden from time to time, whether it's pruning, hedge trimming, fruit picking or cutting back the ivy, and the natural solution is to grab that old pair of steps from the garage. But if you've ever tried this, and I'm sure we all have, you will soon realize that ordinary household stepladders were never designed for garden use. Their legs and feet are much too skinny and tend to sink easily into turf or soil making for [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]