And the sound of ladder companies and big box stores rejoicing could be heard 'round the world...
I legitimately wonder how the use of a "3rd-party" product like this would be handled in a workers comp or civil lawsuit?
Ladder Lockdown and Ladder Levelizer Tested
Published Jul 18, 2018 13:49 PM
******* *** * ***** ********* *** ************ and ******** **********, *** ******* ** an ******** ******* *** ** ********* dangerous. ** ******** *********** *** *********** ******, ** ** ********* ** ****** the ****** ** ****** ******.
*** ************* ***** ** ******* ****** safety:
- ****** ******** ****** "*** ***** **** ***** * ladder *****"
- ****** ********* ****** ** "***** *******, ****, ****, and ****."
** ****** **** ****** ******* *** tested ****. ***** ** ** ********:
** ****** **** ** ***** ******* in ****-***** ********** ** *** *** they ****, *********:
- ********* ****** ** ***********
- ****** ********* *************
- ****** ******** *************
- ******* ******** / ************
- ******** ********
- *****
***************
*** ****** ******** ** *********** *** use **** ******* ****** ** *** available ** **** ** ***** * ******. *** one ****** ** **** ****** ******** ****** *** be **** ** ****** ****** **** ******** both ****-**** **** **** ****** ******* with *** ******. ***** *** ****** Lockdown ** ****** ****** ** **** safe **** ***** * ****** *****.
*** ****** ********* ** *********** *** ******* on ****** ****** *** ***** ** advertised, ******** * ***** ***-**** **** on ****** ****** ***** *** ********* required **** ********* ***-** ******** **** for ********* *******, ***** ***** ** not ****** ** ***** * ****.
*****
*** ****** ********* *** ** ********* ******** from *** ************'* ******* *** ~$** USD [**** ** ****** *********].
*** ****** ******** *** ** ********* from*** ************'* ******* *** ~$***+ ********, ***** *** ~$** ** our ******.
Ladder ********* *************
** *** *******, *** ****** ********* worked ****, **** ** ****** ****** on *** ******, ****** ****** **** the ****** ** **** ********, *** the ****** ****** ** ***. ** had ** ****** **** *********** **** placed.
*** ***** ***** ************ ***** *** levelizer ** * ***** *****.
Ladder ******** *************
** *** *******, *** ****** ******** had ****** ** ****** ********, **** the ****** ******* ** *** ******* does *** ******* *** *** ******** strips ** *** ****** ** *** Lockdown. ** **** ******** *** ** mulch/soil, *** ****** ******** ****** ************, with *** ***-**** ****** *** ****** spikes ********* ********* ****.
*** ***** ************ ***** *********:
Beware ****** ******** *******
******** ****** ******** ****** ** ** 25x ***** **** * ****** ***** users ** *** ****** ******** **** ensure **** *** ***** ** ** flat ******, ** **** * ***** bump ** ****** **** ** * **** surface **** ***** *** ***** ** slide ****** ** **** **** **** a ****** *****.
*** ****** ** *** ****** ******** has *** ***** ***** **** ***-**** ********, ******* the ****** ***** ******* ** *****.
** ********* ****** ********, *** ******** the ********* ********:
*** ***** ** ***** *** **** appreciated. ** *** ** ******* *** in *** ****** ** **** * smaller **** ****** *** ******.** *** ***** ***** *** ****** is ** ****** **** **’* ******** create * **** ***** **** ***** up ******* *** ***** ***** ** our ****** ********, ** ***** ** better ** *** *** *** ****** or ******* ** *** ******* ** not ** *** ****** ******** ** that ********* ** ***. ****** *** use *** *** ****** ** *** cons, *** ***** ** *** ******* are ****** ****** ****** ** ******* them **** **** ******.
** **** ****** **** ****** ** they ****** ** ** *** ****** change.
******* ** **** *****, ****** ******** worked ** **********, ********* * ***** footing ** **** ** **** ******.
Alternatives ** *********/********
***** *** **** *********** ************ ** the ******* ******** *****:
- ****** *** ********
- ***** ********
- ***** ** ****** ******/****/*****
Extension ****** ****** *** ********
**** ************* ***** ******-*** ******** *******, ***** ******* to *** ***** ******* ** *** ****** ** the *** *** ***** *** ******. These **** ~$*** *** ** ******* and **** ** ** *********** ******** to *** ******, ***** ***** ******** drilling ******** ***** ** *** ******, which *** (****** ****) **** ******** and ** **** ***** ******* *** ladder's ****** ******.
Extension ****** ******** ********
***** *** **** ******* **** ******* to ***** ******* ** ********* ******* and ******* * **** ******* ******** adjustment ******** *** **** ** **** on ****** ******** *** **** *** ladder **** ***** *** ****-****** ****. This ******* **** *** ******* ****** modification ** ** ***** ** ** the ****** ** * ******* ******* to *** ****** ** ******** **** **** locks. ***** *** ********* ~$***-***.
Built ** ****** ******
**** ********* ******* ******* ***** ** ***** feet ***** *** ** ****** **** the ****** ** **** *******, ******** to ******** ** ******, *****, ** toes. ***** ****** *** **** ********** for ******** ********* ** ****** ******* the ****** ******** (**** **** ~*"), with *** ****** ***** ****** **** *** **** on ****** ******, *** *** **** foot **** ** ***** ******.
*******, **** ****** *** * **** shorter ***** **** ***-** *******, **** ~2" ** ****, ******** ** *"+ when ***** ******** **** ** ********.
Comments (17)
Sean Patton
Jul 18, 2018
Kyle Folger
Jul 18, 2018I think it would be perfectly fine, given that the one I use and trust is on Werner's website and listed as factory installed or user installed. I've been on a hill with the one side fully extended with the ladder fully extended. It wasn't going anywhere.
Now, this is assumed that the user installed part was installed by a competent person per the manufacturer's instruction. I wouldn't be too concerned with that as I find so many using a factory ladder incorrectly without any 3rd party products added on. Some use a truck bed as a 3rd party product.
I personally wouldn't use the above products listed in beginning of this article. Plus, I prefer fiberglass ladders and stay away from aluminum ladders. Commercial jobs prefer to see fiberglass ladders anyways.
Ethan Ace
Jul 18, 2018Kyle Folger
Jul 18, 2018I prefer products that I can use in multiple scenarios. The Ladder Levelizer wouldn't fit many of the places I use ladders such as spanning stairs like the product I linked to shows. My leveler has worked in many situations. The Levelizer doesn't appear to get as high as I would need it.
The Lockdown might be useful with the spikes in the ground but not on a smooth slightly uneven surface that wouldn't use the spikes. There aren't many situations where I have a completely smooth surface. But in the ground, I find the Werner spikes built in the ladder work fine for me. If I need more stabilization at the base, I would rather have something with outriggers such as this. That is one of the biggest risks I see for falls.
I also have and use on occasion a ladder top stabilizer and a building corner stabilizer.
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Jul 18, 2018We use ladderm8. Very good, all our guys have the pro plus version.
[IPVM Note: video embedded below]
Fabian Muyawa
Jul 20, 2018John Scanlan
Jul 20, 2018U1 - thanks for the feedback and link! That sounds like a solid product. How long has your company been using it and have you had any concerns / scares with it?
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Jul 20, 2018Hi John, Yes we have been using for a very long time, like years. All our engineers have it on the van as part of their kit. No concerns with it at all.
More and more as health and safety are getting tighter on sites we find you need to as an engineer but also the company demonstrate reasonable steps to mitigate risk. Then practice that on site.
Of course, you need to ensure correct ladder training etc and ladder checks as normal.
Rich Moore
Jul 18, 2018I used to be a painter back in the 90s. We always carried a box of shim that we got from the carpenters so we could build up a side on uneven ground. As long as you feel stable on the ladder, it's well worth it.
U
Undisclosed #2
Jul 18, 2018I like those old wobbly wooden 200 pound tripod ladders.
TM
Ty Mullen
Jul 19, 2018We use the single leg levelers (installed on each leg) and have found that they work great. The only problem is they add a lot of weight and that extra weight is all to one side. That makes the ladder very awkward to carry.
Just used it yesterday to access two poles that were mounted on uneven surface.
Knut-Eric Andreassen
Jul 23, 2018We are not allowed by law to use straight ladders over 3m without stabilizers in bottom. This is scandinavia, it is not allowed to use ladders i stair anymore.
John Scanlan
Jul 23, 2018U
Undisclosed #3
Jul 23, 2018So the lockdown does not work well on uneven ground, but does the Levelizer NOT work on level ground?
John Scanlan
Jul 23, 2018Correct, the Levelizer is not needed on level ground and if used on flat ground it will make the ladder tilt. The Lockdown does not work on ground that has raised areas in he middle of the plate, since it does not have anti-skid material in the center. They are looking to change that.
CK
Carl Kristoffersen
Jul 23, 2018The levelizer looks like a decent product, although I'd like to see a wider footprint at the taller end.
The lockdown on the other hand... it's pads are no bigger than the ladders so on flat surfaces, that's a detriment with the already seen problem of it sliding being an issue. More strips will not mitigate that possibility. Raised non-slip surfaces would help immensely. As for grass or dirt, I find the claw feet of ladders to be more than adequate. I couldn't see buying this for $25, let alone $180 to my door.
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #4
Jan 23, 2020This is the first time seeing such products, Normally I would find a door stop or some books to level my ladder. ....and prey to God it doesn't kick out