Three Insights on Industrial Ladder Safety

Safety at work is a goal we care about, but it’s more complex than most people realize. Even safety professionals need to continue to learn as our work environment becomes increasingly complex. Metallic Ladder is teaming up with our long-term partner, the American Ladder Institute, to reach more people with valuable information for National Ladder Safety Month.

We’ve been an industry leader for 70 years, working with thousands of customers to enhance workplace safety and productivity.  The following are some insights we have learned from safety managers, supervisors, and purchasing managers we have worked with over the years.

• Have you considered all of the options for helping your employees work safely?

• Do you make it easy for your employees to work safely at a height?

• Can you promise your employees that you provide the quality equipment they can count on?

1. Choose the right tool for the job 

Our customers tell us that many supervisors do not know all of the solutions available to help their employees work safely at a height. For example, application-specific ladders for aircraft maintenance can make it easier and safer to work for prolonged time in hard-to-reach places such as cowlings or pylons.

Custom ladder designs can help your employees work ergonomically and safely. If your employees routinely use heavy tools, the added weight of a person and tools can be more than a typical ladder can safely hold. If this is the case, work platforms and work stands are great options for you to consider.

2. Make it easy for your employees to be safer

Ease of use can make a difference between an employee consistently using safety equipment and avoiding it. We have found that aluminum ladders, including rolling ladders and rolling work platforms are much preferable for many employees to wearing harnesses. 

Not only are aluminum ladders lighter, the addition of wheels makes them easy to move, especially for an aging workforce. If a ladder is too heavy and cumbersome, your employees may look for shortcuts that reduce safety.

3. The Quality of your equipment matters

Low-cost products from overseas are tempting to buy, but consider that they may not offer the same level of safety. In addtion, some manufacturers are tout unsafe ladder repairs that do not comply with ANSI best practices. As a 70-year-old company, Metallic Ladder is committed to 100% USA-made products backed by testing procedures with standards stricter than those required by governing bodies. That is why our tagline is Trust Your Climb.

We are proud to be a long-time member of the American Ladder Institute, and serve on several of its safety committees. Please share with your employees and colleagues the excellent information they provide for National Ladder Safety Month, but please do it all year long.

Let’s continue the conversation about safety at work. Click to Learn More About General Purpose, Specialized Applications, and Custom Ladders.