News / PF Connection
Image A
January 4, 2018 | For Physical Facilities staff
Message from the Physical Facilities Safety Committee
New ladders; old reminders for the new year
Operations and Maintenance and In-House Project Deliverables personnel will begin to see a new type of ladder in the coming weeks. It is called the Werner LeanSafe Ladder (Image A).
This ladder is actually designed by the manufacturer to be used in two different ways: one, fully opened as a common portable step ladder, and two, closed and leaning as you see in the image above.
Being able to utilize such a configuration will allow our staff to access confined work areas more easily, but as we do so with these new ladders, we need to remember that the same principles for safe ladder use apply. Regardless of what ladder we use, we must always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for safe use of their ladders. These guidelines are clearly displayed on the decals attached to each ladder.
On the LeanSafe ladders, you will see many of the common, safe-work practices outlined on the decals. However, there is one detail that we will need to carefully note when using this ladder as shown above.
When this ladder is used in the closed, leaning position, the highest useable step is lowered by one step. The second image (Image B) illustrates this; notice the decals for the "stepladder" and "leaning ladder" positions.
Image B
This is an important detail to consider when purchasing and selecting one of the LeanSafe ladders for use. We have to make sure that we can use it safely at the height necessary for performing our work.
Otherwise, these are essentially the same size, weight and load capacity of our common portable step ladders. Currently the LeanSafe ladder maximum load capacity is only 300 pounds; however, they are working on production of a 375-pound version that will probably be released sometime this year.
For more information, please visit the Werner LeanSafe links below:
Questions may be directed to Jon Biggs, senior technical training and design specialist, at jdbiggs@purdue.edu or (765) 494-9895.
