Ladder Safety

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Ladder Safety

January 30, 2012, 11:42:48 am

Perhaps this has been covered, sorry for the repeat, but it is very important. And I wish that I could take credit, but it goes to Rudy Leggett of AH service.

From experience in the heavy industry, folks are taught to not climb a ladder without heels on the shoe or boot. Why? There was a fellow coming down a ladder on the rear of a coach. His foot slipped forward and with no heel to catch the forward motion, he slipped through the ladder and hung upside down.

I hope this offhand remark to me by Rudy helps save me, or one of you, as he hoped to save me. Have a great week, and be safe. Mike

Re: Ladder Safety

Reply #1 – January 30, 2012, 12:29:32 pm

Quote from: Michael Jackie – January 30, 2012, 11:42:48 am

Perhaps this has been covered, sorry for the repeat, but it is very important. And I wish that I could take credit, but it goes to Rudy Leggett of AH service.

From experience in the heavy industry, folks are taught to not climb a ladder without heels on the shoe or boot. Why? There was a fellow coming down a ladder on the rear of a coach. His foot slipped forward and with no heel to catch the forward motion, he slipped through the ladder and hung upside down.

I hope this offhand remark to me by Rudy helps save me, or one of you, as he hoped to save me. Have a great week, and be safe. Mike

I like the stability of using my "A" frame ladder up against the coach ladder held on by a stretch cord. Then I climb the last few rungs of the coach ladder.

Re: Ladder Safety

Reply #2 – January 30, 2012, 12:44:44 pm

Ladders attached to the back of the coach are not heavy duty ladders to begin with. When we were at Xtreme P&G last June, they replaced a lot of the components used to attached the ladder to the coach. They indicated that it was a failure waiting to happen in its condition when we arrived. The ladder is something that you may wish to have inspected and repaired by an expert.

Barry's recommendation to use a good utility ladder is one many people accept. It is likely to be a safer alternative to the built in ladder.

Re: Ladder Safety

Reply #3 – January 30, 2012, 03:34:50 pm

I cannot tell how tall that ladder is? I think I would need it to go about to the top? Perhaps there is something of an ideal height, that aligns with getting off of the top of the coach and onto the step ladder safely? I prefer the fiberglass ladders, seem more stable.

Re: Ladder Safety

Reply #4 – January 30, 2012, 03:49:37 pm

Quote from: Michael Jackie – January 30, 2012, 03:34:50 pm

I cannot tell how tall that ladder is? I think I would need it to go about to the top? Perhaps there is something of an ideal height, that aligns with getting off of the top of the coach and onto the step ladder safely? I prefer the fiberglass ladders, seem more stable.

It is a 6" fiberglass ladder that I carry in the coach. It does not go all the way to the top but close enough so I only need to use the top steps on the coach ladder.

Re: Ladder Safety

Reply #5 – January 30, 2012, 08:45:37 pm

The ladder on my coach was removed when James at Extreme owned it. He hates them apparently as he is a big guy for such a flimsy item. I have one of the ladders below, came with the coach, it's heavy but very stable and if extended flat and laid up against the side of the coach makes it easy to get on the roof. Used as a step ladder I can reach any part of the coach. Don't forget to put padding on the ladder to prevent marring the finish. I use a couple of pieces of split pipe insulation slipped over the uprights. Helps prevent the ladder sliding as well.

Remember that if you can't keep your body within the ladder uprights you are leaning out too far. Move the ladder.

Keith

17 ft. Aluminum Twin Step Ladder 300 Lb. Load Capacity ( Type IA Duty

Re: Ladder Safety

Reply #6 – January 30, 2012, 09:02:57 pm

I also find the built-in ladder on our U225 shaky enough to make me nervous going up and down on it. George Stoltz had a "telestep" 12-1/2 foot ladder for sale a while back that I would have snapped up if it hadn't been in Florida (probably with a king cobra guarding it). But I like the idea of those. From what I've read you have to be careful to get the right telescoping ladder because some of them telescope a little too well (locking mechanism if not as good as it could be).

I think George's ad is still in the Classified forum, actually.

Craig

Re: Ladder Safety

Reply #7 – January 30, 2012, 09:22:45 pm

Of the several ladders discussed, Keith's ladder is by far the safest. This ladder, which I also use, will extend three feet above the roof of the coach giving one a hand hold to grip while stepping off to the roof and off the roof onto the ladder.

The three feet above the landing requirement in combination with a shoe that has a defined heel are mandatory in all industrial settings having safety personnel and a culture demanding safe operating procedures.

There are many more edicts that go along with using the ladder safely such as no carrying anything while using the ladder. Use a rope to haul the item up once upon the roof. This gives three points of contact with the ladder at all times, two feet and one hand or two hands and one foot.

The reason industry is so strident about these rules is falling eleven feet or more is the number one cause of death in industrial accidents.

Well, thankfully, we are not an industrial setting or we would have to be 100% tied off in an approved harness to get off the ladder onto a roof that is six feet or more above the ground. So use this info as is best for your setting. Think Safe, Act Safe, Be Safe.

Re: Ladder Safety

Reply #8 – January 30, 2012, 09:28:53 pm

A 12 foot fiberglass step ladder is the cat's meow for climbing onto the roof with steps to spare. Used one a lot this past summer, but it's not something I can take with me. I also like Keith's ladder, and may yet get one.

I was up and down the rear ladder on my U225 a lot these last 8 months, often carrying tools and parts. At one point the ladder separated from the center tube mounts. It was as written up on Barry's site - the inserts which hold the bolt tight had rusted out causing joint failure. The pot metal foot castings were pitted and corroding but intact. The inserts rusted out because condensate built up inside the tubes and could not drain out. I actually had water run out when the tubes were removed.

I checked the web site linked on Barry's site for parts, but they did not have the needed two bolt mounting feet. To my surprise, Mike Grimes at FOT parts fixed me up with the needed parts for a lot less money - about $40 for all 6 feet. I only needed two tubes, but all 6 pieces came with tubes. So now I have spares. After installation, the new tubes had a small hole drilled in the bottom near the mounting feet, to let condensation out. The refurbishing took about an hour. It's not the sturdiest ladder, but no longer have concerns about going up and down.

Steve

Re: Ladder Safety

Reply #9 – January 30, 2012, 10:48:26 pm

I do not have the problem that is mentioned with Ladders as I have the DW go up first to make sure it is ok.!!!
I know I am now removed from the postings!!
John H

Re: Ladder Safety

Reply #10 – January 31, 2012, 11:36:35 am

Since Pat ("The Washer Lady") refuses to let us carry a step ladder on the back, I rebuilt our FT ladder last spring. Put in new plastic end caps and larger screws to the body (several were stripped....see previous post). Also replaced the screws that hold the ladder to the horizontal attachment points. But they still come lose with time. It is fairly sturdy now, and I use it quite a bit, but I always have concerns while climbing it after reading all the posts here on the inadequate design of these ladders. We also bought a telescoping extension ladder like George Stoltz's and that has come in very handy. It stores easily down below, but is not quite tall enough to get onto the roof. For that I still use the FT ladder on the back.

Re: Ladder Safety

Reply #11 – January 31, 2012, 12:04:59 pm

Have a contractor friend. He is currently laid up because he missed the last step on a ladder. Ended up having re-constructive surgery on his heel.n Just missed one lousy step.

Re: Ladder Safety

Reply #12 – January 31, 2012, 01:47:28 pm

Interestingly on my ill fated trip to Camping World they had several ladders off coaches lying beside the dumpster. Wonder if they were also taken off as unsafe?

As an aside to this I was helping a chap put his boat on a mooring at our harbor when, going forward along the outside deck, i noticed that the handrail was loose - I was hanging off it at the time - closer inspection revealed it was secured with self tapping screws into the fiberglass. Won't buy a Bayliner!

Keith

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Ladder Safety

January 30, 2012, 11:42:48 am

Re: Ladder Safety

Reply #1 – January 30, 2012, 12:29:32 pm

Re: Ladder Safety

Reply #2 – January 30, 2012, 12:44:44 pm

Re: Ladder Safety

Reply #3 – January 30, 2012, 03:34:50 pm

Re: Ladder Safety

Reply #4 – January 30, 2012, 03:49:37 pm

Re: Ladder Safety

Reply #5 – January 30, 2012, 08:45:37 pm

Re: Ladder Safety

Reply #6 – January 30, 2012, 09:02:57 pm

Re: Ladder Safety

Reply #7 – January 30, 2012, 09:22:45 pm

Re: Ladder Safety

Reply #8 – January 30, 2012, 09:28:53 pm

Re: Ladder Safety

Reply #9 – January 30, 2012, 10:48:26 pm

Re: Ladder Safety

Reply #10 – January 31, 2012, 11:36:35 am

Re: Ladder Safety

Reply #11 – January 31, 2012, 12:04:59 pm

Re: Ladder Safety

Reply #12 – January 31, 2012, 01:47:28 pm

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