Posted By Sean Fraser Does anyone know what standards are applied to long ladders, non-permanent, for accessing heights? I'm not seeking any manufacturing standards like BS references, but more any practical guidance or quick reference guides for inspections (key criteria - free, wherever possible!). Reason for asking is that we have two long aluminium ladders - one is bowed when viewed face on, as it were, with a slight bend along both supports. The other has a slight kink on one support, three rungs from the top. Neither is what one would call "damaged" as such, but our people have asked if they are still suitable for use with these minor but noticeable defects. All assistance will be gratefully received. Anyone?

Posted By Kevin West In my experiance any damage is enough to remove the ladders from use until checks have been made. Even only slight damage suggests the ladders have had some trauma and so may be weakened. The bowed ladder will almost certainly have had shock loading applied to the side of the ladder in some way and thus will have had detrimental effects on the rungs as they connect to the upright support. Best to err on the side of caution. Kev

Posted By Geoff Burt I'd agree with that Sean, best to dispose of and get new ones. Has as been said, a bowed (prounounced 'boughed' in Yorkshire)ladder is real evidence of abuse/misuse. The only specialist examination we've done on a ladder was after an accident - for the prosecuting solicitors - and the report alone cost far more than a new set of ladders. Geoff

Posted By Robert K Lewis The general alloy ladder manufacturing standards are BS 2037 which has two classes 1 and 3, and BS EN 131 which has a light trade class, swl 150kg. Stepladders have the same standards The problems you mention suggest that the ladder is either a BS2037 class 3 - this is the domestic duty only type, or BS EN131 light trade duty. There is a long record of this type of failure sometimes with fatal consequences. I recently had a 30 year old painter using a set of the BS EN131 steps which collapsed when he was 1 metre above ground. He fell and landed on his right wrist with it tucked under the forearm. The steps were brought on site that morning and had not been seen by the site manager prior to their use. I ban all ladders and stepladders that are not BS 2037 class 1 but as can be seen there are those who don't wish to pay the extra cost and will do all they can to avoid on site checks whatever the systems in place. Bob