Buying a ladder for a weekend project is a snap. Leave the coffeepot
on. Drive to the nearest hardware store. Get a ladder that fits
the height requirement for the job. Load the ladder in the back
of the SUV. Return home.
Nope!
My local hardware store has a courtesy questionnaire that you
must complete before you can buy a ladder. Then there is the
release of liability form if you don't watch the safety video.
"What is this?" I asked the clerk. It seems my local hardware
store owner had been sued on two separate occasion for selling
unsafe equipment. This owner was taking no chances with customer
injuries coming back to haunt him.
There may be some support to his requirement. Over 160,000 people
are injured in ladder related injuries each year. If you don't know
how to choose a ladder for the job or you attempt to use a ladder
that is not safety inspected, the chances of injury are high.
I signed all the forms and sat down to view a thirty-minute video
entitled "Ladder Safety". The video was not interesting but the
dumb things that people do on ladders had me laughing.
Then I saw a video clip that applied to me. The person was on a
ladder cleaning out gutters. Suddenly the extension ladder collapsed.
The video showed the ambulance. The video person failed to
engage the locks on his extension ladder.
The clerk stopped the video to remind the group "Do Not USE
a METAL LADDER IN A LIGHTNING STORM" (There were 10
bored homeowners looking at this video). All we needed was the
clerk to do commentary. But we had to listen to everything because
We wanted our ladders. The clerk reminded us of a basic safety
principal. " If you are working outside in a lightning storm,
get off a metal ladder". Store the metal ladder in your garage.
Do not leave a metal ladder propped against your home during a
thunderstorm".
We all snickered under our breath and thought "DUH"!.
The clerk turned the video back. There on the screen we saw
three electrical incidents involving metal ladders. I thought
everybody knew that metal ladders conduct electricity.
So stay away from electrical wires and lightning and come in out of the rain. Everyone does not know this so I paid closer attention. I was glad
to find out that I could buy a ladder made of fiberglass.
The Clerk showed us how to check the maximum load for a ladder. When you check the maximum weight that the ladder supports
you must add your weight plus whatever materials you are carrying
Up the ladder. No way. I'll just purchase a high load weight for
my ladder because I'm not asking any of the females in my house
to calculate their weight plus anything.
Fortunately for the hardware store I was finished with all the
requirements to puchase a ladder. I knew I needed to
select the right ladder for the right job. The store had
A huge selection of ladders made of several types of material.
They also stocked several styles of ladder.
Unfortunately for me, I needed to purchase several ladders
to meet the requirements of the jobs I did around the house.
I chose my ladders carefully. I didn't want a ladder made of
metal for obvious reasons For mundane outdoor jobs,
the metal ladder was the least expensive.
Then the clerk pointed out that the cheap metal ladder
did not have slip resistant material on the bottom
I had to spend additional money to get that feature.
Since ladders are so common, we tend to take using a ladder
for granted. We forget about the dangers associated with this
household tool. Being safe on a ladder is as important
as being safe in your house or car.
For more information on ladders and ladder accessories try visiting ShoppingForLadders where you will quickly and easily find resources and information on a variety of ladders to include extension ladders and fiberglass ladders.
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