Choose The Right Ladder For The Job

Ladder is an everyday tool, and many workers take them for granted. When buying a new ladder, it is important to ask yourself a few questions first to ensure that you have chosen the right ladder for the job. Here are some tips that can help:

Step 1-Choose the right ladder style

There are many different types of ladders, so the first step is to choose the right style for the job. The various ladder types are designed to keep you safe and efficient when climbing or standing. Using the wrong type or simply ignoring the restrictions of climbing equipment may result in falls or serious injuries. 

Step 2-Choose the right height

To ensure that you choose the ladder that best suits your needs, follow the Werner height safety chart shown below. The extension ladder should be 7 to 10 feet longer than the highest support point or contact point (which may be a wall or roof line). This will allow sufficient length for proper setup, overlap of ladder sections, height restrictions for maximum standing height, and where appropriate, the extension of the ladder above the roof line. The highest standing height is four steps from the top down.

The maximum standing height allowed on the stepladder is two steps from the top down. People who stand taller may lose their balance and fall. The maximum safe reach of a person is approximately 4 feet higher than the height of the ladder. For example, ordinary people can safely reach 8 feet on a 4-foot ladder.

Step 3-Select performance (rated value)

The ladder is designed to safely support a specific weight. Most ladders have five different ratings, determined by their grade and type. The rating is defined as the maximum safe load capacity of the ladder. The weight of a person’s clothes plus the weight of any tools and materials carried on the ladder must be less than the rated value.

The ladder can also meet the needs of various applications. For example, ladders often used by rough workers on construction sites should generally be stronger and have correspondingly higher ratings than ladders used by lighter people to do housework at home. Workers should be advised to consider the weight and work application on the ladder, and choose a ladder grade suitable for the intended use.

The terminology of ladder level, job level, and type can be confusing at first. Remember, the rating is the maximum safe load capacity of the ladder. Therefore, the load class is described in pounds. For example, the 300-pound load class IA ladder is designed for super heavy professional use, and the total weight on the ladder does not exceed 300 pounds.

Step 4-Choose the right material

The final step in choosing the right ladder is to choose the right material. Grainger provides ladders made of fiberglass and aluminum. Each material has characteristics that make it most suitable for certain applications, or a material may only suit the user's personal preferences. For example, potential contact with wires, or exposure to harsh environments such as certain chemicals or outdoor storage, should have a major impact on material selection.