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Posted By Graham Harris
A builder carrying out maintenance work in schools has been advised to get rid of all his aluminum stepladders and replace them with ones made from wood or any other material.
Does anyone know Why?
And where this comment came from in legislation or guidance?
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Posted By Glen Coe
Not too clear, but there are issues with aluminium ladders and electrical maintenance or construction near overhead lines.
I would ask for an explanation from the person who said to change the ladders.
Hope it helps
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Posted By CFT
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg402.pdf
INDG402; this may help you. Nothing legislative only guidance. Personally I loathe the wooden ones with a vengeance, I favour the fibreglass ones; you may find the person who is requesting the use of other materials has experienced difficulties in the past with domestic aluminium steps being used, these are not suitable for a commercial situation and have separate British Standards to each.
CFT
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Posted By MT
On the contrary, it is generally advised to chuck any wooden ladders and use aluminium ones!
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Posted By alan brotherton
No plausible reason I can think of if correct grade of industrial ladder used, unless a risk of contact with electrical conductors or arcing exists.
Tell 'em your manual handling assessment shows that the use of heavier wooded ladders would increase your risk!!
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Posted By PeterL
So long as the ladders comply with BS EN 131 and are classed as industrial, regularly inspected and not for use for high risk electrical maintenance work there should be no issues with using them.
Pete
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Posted By Tabs
We have banned wooden stepladders based on audit. Of eight sets found when I arrived here, all eight had inappropriate 'repair' evident! (Mostly replacement bolts of varying sizes and configuration).
Five were so wobbly as to be useful only in a circus clown show...
Aluminium and fibre glass have their advantages. Fibreglass are non-conductive; aluminium are unaffected by solvents and UV, and are often lighter to handle.
As stated above, get the right standard for the job, and make sure they are as pristine as you can afford to keep them.
Inspection and brutal rejection of damaged/abused steps is good practice to me.
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Posted By Merv Newman
Just a remark on "brutal rejection" (lovely phrase)
Damaged ladders/stepladders should be sawn down vertically before chucking in the skip.
I have one real life case where a damaged ladder went twice into the skip. Recovered and reused each time. Finally the safety technician fell off and broke his leg. Plant manager loaded it into his car and took it to the municipal dump.
Wooden ladders are a pain in the (shoulder) They weigh heavy, they stick, they warp and they break. You try putting up a 4 metre wooden extension. Even with a mate to help it is dangerous.
Glass fibre ladders are lighter and do not warp, hard to damage. ideal for electrical work. Aluminium are even lighter and best for anything non-electrical. But they can be bent if you try hard.
About every 5 years I hire a 5 meter ali extension to repaint the eaves. Not exactly one handed but no serious problem. (the wife comes in handy for technical advice)
Merv
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Posted By Chris Jerman
Merv, Just remember that lurking within every damaged ladder are two perfectly good, but shorter ones!
I'm kidding, seriously.
I'm with the brutal and aggressive disposal of cruddy equipment every time. It's also immensely satisfying. Problem is for every bit that you get rid of, someone has to get a new one. Not out of my budget!
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Posted By John Lewis
When you dispose of the ladder, of whatever type, beware of the helpul labourer who offers to smash it with a sledge hammer. Before you can say "Whoa hang on a minute ..... " he will have swung the sledge, hit the stile, deflected the blow and smacked his (fortunately toe capped) boot.
As a previous poster said, saw down the treads.
John
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