Posted By Jonathan Breeze Interesting suggestion Al, You would of course have to prevent the employee trying to access the tools from the rucksack while on the ladder. Ray Mears suggests that a ruck sack must not protrude above shoulder height as it might get caught on branches. Same principle would apply in confined spaces such as hooped ladders I think. Deal with those issues & it may have potential.

Posted By Dave Dowan Hi Al We employ riggers / engineers who also access work areas by fixed / portable ladders depending on the site. We supply a tool bag, which is carried across the chest to carry hand tools. The guys can use both hands to climb the ladder; an advantage is that this way they can ensure that the bag does not snag as they climb. They prefer this to a tool belt or rucksack and as with most kit if the engineers like it they are more likely to use it. If they need any extra tools or equipment they hoist it up using pulleys and rope Hope this helps Dave

Posted By Chris Pope Al, Materials should not be carried up any ladder in theory, but the most dangerous ladder to carry materials up is undoubtedly a vertical one, so you are on the right track to address this issue. The best way is to hoist the materials up by rope after you have ascended the ladder. We discourage maintenance personnel from carrying sharp tools in their pockets - I would have thought a fall from the ladder with a screwdriver from the toolbag giving you a stab wound should be avoided.

Posted By John Murgatroyd The hoops of a catladder have diameter of 750mm (standard) Try measuring the distance between your back and the rungs. Then add the rucksack. You're not asking the guy to defend his country, you're asking him to do a job with minimal risk to himself and others. Tools falling down from a ladder present a risk to others.

Posted By John Murgatroyd 10kg (22lbs)(in old money) is not heavy, unless you're carrying it up a ladder. If it is in a back-mounted rucksack then it will foul the ladder hoops. A safety risk. If front mounted, it will limit the movement of the hands/arms. A safety risk. In both cases the tools may fall down the ladder shaft. If we're getting into the king and country routine and the 60kg bags troops carry....I'll repeat what I said, we're not asking the guy to defend his country, he's doing a job from which he would LIKE to go home from afterwards.

Posted By John Murgatroyd Get a life Geof. I'm not only NOT sexist but I actually prefer the company of women. I find men confrontational to a degree verging on violence, such as yourself, who always looks for the back way of attacking anothers viewpoint. The ratio of men to women in engineering is not 1:1, nor anyhere near it. And as someone who not only MAKES catladders but also CLIMBS up them, I can say that all you scheme-dreamers, who have probably never climbed one in anger, get ignored by the guys who do the work. You know exactly where the rucksack can be put, and it's not on MY back.

Posted By Geof I can't let that go completely John, despite you obviously being upset about the sexism comment, and despite the warning from the moderators. Ex member of RAF mountain rescue team. Ex CAA climber. Moderators: Positively my last word!!

Posted By John Murgatroyd It's easy to check out the fit. A standard doorway is 30" (760mm) wide. Stand in the doorway with your rucksack on and check the fit, front and back. For your information, toolholders come in various themes, and even in waist fitment. Cat ladders come in various styles as well, some are round hoops, some are square hoops (with large radius corners), and I've even made them with hexagonal hoops when I wanted a change. The one thing they all have in common is that there is very little room inside the hoops, the reason for that is so that if you were to lose your grip there is little time to gain speed before you stop against the frame. And I'm not an engineer. The engineers tell me how they want things made, and I tell them why they can't be made their way. And I'll say this again Geof, the guys (and gals) are paid to work, NOT to injure themselves. What you do in your time is up to you, what you ask others to do is another thing entirely. And there are a lot of clever no-win-no-fee solicitors out there now in case you make an error.