Ladders are essential equipment for many construction workers, but they can also be dangerous if not properly used. To stay safe on the job site, it is important to use ladders specifically designed for safety. One such type of ladder is a walk through ladder, or walk through safety attachment for an extension ladder.
What are Walk Through Ladders?
A walkthru ladder allows you to go through the top of a ladder rather than around it, increasing your safety while climbing on or off a roof. One-piece welded assemblies that will install quickly at your loading dock or similar vertical access area are the greatest fixed ladders in this class.
Walk through ladder attachment
However, many contractors need this safety enhancement on their various job sites. For mobile use, Werner makes an attachment that provides the same safety as a fixed walkthru ladder, but can be installed on site. The device may be quickly installed over the tops of each side beam of most extension ladders, requiring no tools. This means you don’t have to carry an extra ladder on your truck, and can have the walk through benefit when needed.
How Do Walk Through Ladders Improve Safety?
There are several ways that walkthrough ladders improve safety for construction workers:
- They provide a stable platform to climb on and off roofs.
- They prevent you from accidentally stepping off the ladder while climbing.
- They help you maintain your balance while on the ladder.
- They allow you to see where you are going while climbing, which can help prevent accidents.
Other Specialty Ladders
Glidesafe ladders
Provide all the benefits of a regular extension ladder, but it only requires half the effort to operate. The integrated lift-assist mechanism makes it easy to lift and lower, eliminating back and arm strain. Glidesafe lowers the extension at a smooth, safe speed every time. It also comes with a dual locking system to keep the ladder from extending while you are traveling.
Podium ladders
A podium ladder is a type of A-frame ladder that has been modified. It folds up and has the same steps as an A-frame ladder. However, whereas an A-frame ladder features a simple fold-out shelf to remind you not to use the final few feet, a podium ladder delivers a functional work surface. When you’re working, it’s there specifically for you to stand on with both feet.
Improving Ladder Safety With These 3 Accessories
The safety of your team is paramount, and having a fall-protection system in place will give you and your employees peace of mind when working on ladders or other platforms that need to be secured. A safety device for ladders is a system that restricts an employee’s drop or fall from the ladder, and may include friction brakes, lifelines, and lanyards, as well as sliding attachments.
Safety harness
Only full-body harnesses should be considered, as the harness is part of the fall-prevention system worn by the worker. Dozens of designs have been developed to increase comfort and mobility while minimizing weight. However, the most important criteria for selecting a harness are safety and suitability for the task being done.
Lanyards
A safety lanyard is a worker’s connection to a fall protection anchor point. This short length of webbing or cable typically connects to the D-ring of an employee’s safety harness and can have a shock-absorbing function, or it may simply be used as a lifeline. When choosing a lanyard, consider your fall clearance distance, which is the distance required to keep someone who falls from coming into touch with the nearest object below the work surface.
Stabilizers
A ladder stabilizer (also known as a stand-off) is a ladder accessory with wide tubular arms that grip a house wall with non-skid rubber pads to improve both the stability and “reach” of a ladder. Stabilizers allow all sorts of extension ladders to straddle wide windows or “stand off” farther from a house, while remaining rock-steady, allowing them to straddle deep eaves or “stand off” farther from the home.
General Ladder Safety
There are various reasons why people are injured or killed each year due to incidents involving ladders. Sliding of the ladder base or the ladder itself falling over are two common causes. Improperly transporting and setting up ladders is also responsible for many back injuries. The importance of safe ladder techniques, such as selecting the appropriate ladder for the task, inspecting it before each use, and ensuring correct setup and usage, cannot be overstated.
For more information on walk through ladders, or to find the perfect one for your needs, contact Pro Tool & Supply today at 1-866-405-2985 . Our experts will be happy to help you choose the right ladder for your job site.
