Climbing a ladder requires some degree of physical strength and mobility; in order to safely use a ladder, the person climbing should have full use of all their limbs to maintain proper contact with the ladder at all times.  This means that the disabled or mobility impaired cannot safely use a traditional ladder, and would need to take a big risk to reach a high shelf or change a lightbulb around the home.  World Patent Marketing is planning to bring a new product to market that will change these restrictions on safe ladder use for those who would otherwise struggle to use one.

The One Step Ladder is designed for people who are too weak to get themselves up a ladder, or who are otherwise unable to do so because of lower limb problems.  The equipment takes the frame of a standard step ladder but instead of having several rungs, there is just one at the bottom.  This can be moved up and down the front face of the ladder and is supported by a heavy duty metal mesh that also stops the user from slipping off the rung.  It is battery operated and works at the touch of a button, raising and lowering the rung to any position along the height of the equipment using a mechanical chain.  This control over the position of the rung means that it can be set to exactly the right height rather than compromising on the rung selected as you may have to do with a conventional ladder.

There is no human power required to use the ladder, the user just needs to be steady enough to hold themselves upright.  Although it is not designed to allow the disabled or elderly to carry out heavy maintenance or gardening tasks it is supposed to give back some independence to people as they become weaker and unable to do some simple tasks for themselves.  Elderly people who live alone and may not have regular visits from family and friends could find the One Step Ladder to be very useful in getting clothes and food down from high shelves when needed, all without having to ask someone to come over and do that for them.  The return of some independence is what the One Step Ladder is designed to bring.

Of course, this ladder design does require the user to be able to stand for a reasonable length of time, so it is not suitable for wheelchair users.  Some people may have reservations about frail or weak people using ladders at all, but as long as this equipment is not used for extended periods of time, or to carry out heavy work then the benefits of independence that the One Step Ladder can bring are considerable.

The same technology could also be applied to warehouses and libraries, or anywhere that stock is kept on high shelves that need to be accessed regularly.  By removing the need to physically climb up and down the ladder the user can retain more energy and keep productivity levels high.  Additionally, by removing the amount of climbing there is, and thereby the number of times contact with the ladder is broken, accidents can also be reduced.

The product is still in development and testing at the moment, and there are some restrictions over the heights achievable with the technology as it stands, but there is certainly some mileage in making ladders more accessible and easier for regular users as well as those for whom the ladder is out of bounds due to reduced strength or mobility.