Most industries and commercial factories involve the use of ladders. Ladders are essential when any activity needs to be done in places which are high above the reach of our hands. To ensure safety and the standards of the industry a platform ladder is the most suitable choice because they have been tested for safety.
They are also highly capable of supporting heavy loads which are often required in industries. They are also capable of performing a wide variety of activities. Use of platform ladders ensures a safe and efficient working of the employees. They come in various shapes and sizes depending on the activity and application they have to be used for.
What are the activities in which they are used?
They are used in a wide variety of uses. Ladders are invariably required in logistics and warehouses of companies involved in manufacturing and standalone companies. They play an important role in storing and retrieving goods and materials.
There are ladders which are specifically designed for warehouse and logistics companies. Construction and repairing work also needs to use these ladders for reaching the required heights.
They are also used in the retail shops for storing stationery items. Nowadays due to its highly versatile functions, it is also used in a variety of household activities.
What factors need to be checked for when using these ladders?
There are a few things to check for when you are buying these ladders. The first thing to check for is the height at which your employees would normally work. This is crucial as reaching the optimum height would ensure that the work is done in a less amount of time and in a proper way as the visual angle would be minimum.
The second most important thing to check for is the load factor. Make sure to buy a platform ladder that matches the workload of the goods or the equipment which would be required while working on top of the ladder.
Construction activities may require using ladders made of metals to ensure that they can support the load.
The third thing that you would have to find out is that if the ladder will be used on the open weather conditions. If so, then make sure that the material is non-corrosive and suitable for use in all the weather conditions. It should be resistant to extreme weather conditions like heat, cold, humidity, rainfall etc.
The fourth thing that you have to consider is the composition material used in making the ladder. These ladders are made of a wide variety of materials like aluminium, fibreglass etc. This is to ensure that the load can be supported and the structure is stable.
If the work involves fire and electric hazard then you should avoid aluminium ladders as they are good conductors of heat and electricity. In such cases fibreglass materials would be a good choice as they do not conduct electricity or heat. On the other hand, aluminium ladders are very useful because they are light and can be transported from one place to another very easily.
Some of the safety factors to consider before making the final buying decision
Make sure that there are enough steel rivets to ensure that the load is equally supported in the two arms of the ladder. This would provide proper leverage and give the structure rigidity and support.
The platform should have enough space sp that your employees can work on them easily and comfortably. This is important because it might be necessary to move around while working on top of the ladder. Also the work itself might involve the use of various tools and equipment which the worker would take with him to the platform and keep it on the floor.
Also, find out if the platform ladder has sufficient retractable castor wheels to ensure that the wheels of the ladder are highly stable and firm on the ground so that the ladder does not move around.
Employees or workers who would be working on top of the ladder are advised to always maintain three touch points with the ladder so to maintain safety. It is also advised that the rails are there on top of the platform only for safety. The workers working on top of the platform are advised not to get on top of the handrails as one may fall over.
Make sure that the platform on top of the ladder is non-slippery. This will ensure that the workers will not slip and fall over when working on the platform.
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