Why not give someone like youngman a call and see if the can make adaptations to meet your requirements. Otherwise contact a good fabricator.

Ron, the question was: I have just had a quick search and turned up nowt so just wondering if anyone can help, my site installation guys are being asked more frequently if they have step ladders with handles ( the ones either side), found plenty in tinternet but none that have folding/retractable handles, required due to space constraints in vehicles, folded envelope 2.0m X 0.2m. If anyone can suggest manufacturer or supplier, off forum of course, please see contact details, it would be appreciated.

Beware introducing new potential risks in an attempt to keep the PC sweet. There is an overreaction in many quarters regarding the use of ladders generally. In terms of WAH complisance, you might want to broaden your search to consider use of lightweight podium steps as opposed to step ladders? C'mon GeoffB4, lighten up - this is a discussion forum, not a helpdesk - we're allowed to ask questions and develop the discussion further!

We install complex equipment involving a great deal of pipework in small service areas so 90% of the time the only option available, other than climbing on the equipment, is step ladders, following detailed procedures. Handrails on step ladders would only encumber the work further in my opinion. My concern is that this has been mentioned by a number of PC's and that it is a 'movement' gathering momentum. thanks for your responses I'll take the pragmatic view and hope any jobs worth will listen to reason. Regards Lammyman

All that said, stepladders are subject to widespread misuse, if not abuse. Stepladders become problematic in the same way as leaning ladders do when work is done to the side, as opposed to "face on". Other issues: Operatives may tend to climb too high (sometimes perching on the top step), and often the '3-points of contact' is not applied (particularly true in installation work), Stay bars not locked down when in use, Not uncommon to see a set of folding steps used (folded) as a leaning ladder! These sort of issues are of course contrary to WAHR and do attract the jusitified attention of the HSE. Stepladders are not a working platform. Back to the podium step suggestion then.