Am I being narrow minded.

[brantmacga]

I was installing a new 200A OH service a few months ago;

I had an aluminum ext. ladder to get up in an eave where I was running conduit into the attic. At this point, there were no lines nearby. The POCO came by to do the cut-out and I was around the house doing something else. When I came back, the lineman had taken my aluminum ladder and proceded to do the cut-out, LIVE, on top of that ladder. I just shook my head.

When they came back to reconnect, I came around to find a different lineman standing on top of my aluminum ladder trying to hook up LIVE. When he saw me looking at him, he came down quickly and said "yeh that's probably a bad idea."

 

[peter d]

I think aluminum ladders are fine if you do nothing but do new homes and you're putting up services, flood lights, and the like. But we know the days of continuous new home work are pretty much over.

Yeah, but compare that to the wooden extension ladders used by my father's generation, they're light. I have two 40' wooden extension ladders, and it takes a man, a boy, and 4 mule team to set it up. Plus, the round rungs are hard on the feet when you're on it for a while.

You have access to a mule team?

 

[brantmacga]

You have access to a mule team?

marc lives in amish country.

 

[masterinbama]

if you put too many fiberglass or wooden ladders on top of your station wagon you can't carry enough material to wire an addition for a $1.25 a square foot

 

[charlietuna]

good one !---actually i agree with brian! when i notice an electrical contractor transporting or using an aluminum ladder i shake my head ! and i know how nice and light they are compared to wood or fiberglass, but it only takes one mistake to make that ladder very heavy on the hearts of someone's survivors. and i know we are not supposed to work anything hot, but then we know sometimes people make mistakes or dead circuits become energized and standing on an aluminum ladder can make a difference in getting a shock--or getting killed. then consider the ease at which an aluminum ladder can fall over from just wind and what can happen if it falls into an energized panel or overhead drop. as contractors we should make every consideration to protect our workers against their own possible mistakes --owning an aluminum ladder for use in the electrical trade sends the wrong message to your men !

 

[DanZ]

My dads just turned 86, 2 days ago, I'll be 56 in 32 days, not that I am counting.

Your dads are the same age?!? I'm not trying to judge you or them, but that is kinda odd!

 

[DanZ]

I remember watching my dad work off of a wooden ladder when I was a kid, a rung gave way and he rode it down half a dozen rungs or so, snapping one after the other on the way down and landed safely on his feet, It looked like something out of a cartoon. I suspect the ladder spent alot of time outside in the elements.

Don't take this the wrong way, but I pictured a Loony Tunes moment, and busted out laughing!

Just as an odd note, if you do have ladders on top of your station wagon, you can put spools of wire or conduit in rungs...

 

[220/221]

95% of the time we use the extension ladder is only used to acces a roof.

A 24' AL ladder is significantly less than a fiberglass ladder.

I stocked my trucks with fiberglass but the guy that does the maintenance in the bucket truck wanted an AL ladder because the fiberglass is too difficult to manage by himself (His is stored on top of the box van instead of inside.)

He uses it often to work on exterior wall packs. It has rubber feet.......right :wink:

As far as step ladders, the fiberglass ones are sturdy and easy to handle up to 12'.

 

[DanZ]

He uses it often to work on exterior wall packs. It has rubber feet.......right :wink:

So, all that current running through the ladder, than him, the back to the ladder can hit the rubber feet, then turn around and run back through the ladder, just to run back through him again?:roll:

 

[billsnuff]

it's friday, so against my better judgement (even that ain't great) i'm gonna ask the obvious.........if you never work hot, what difference would it make, say for a house roper? now, excuse me while i look for a safe place to hide.

:grin:

 

[220/221]

The trick is to keep the current from running thru the ladder.

You would have to be grounded to the fixture/box and allow the conductor to come in contact with the ladder. Of course it could happen....but not to me

Besides.....even fiberglass ladders have aluminum rungs.

 

[brian john]

Besides.....even fiberglass ladders have aluminum rungs.

And hotsticks have metal tips, insulators have metal inserts but all are INSULATORS designed with the metal insert taken into account, thus making them safer in all circumstances over something conductive, when utilized proprly.

 

[480sparky]

.....Besides.....even fiberglass ladders have aluminum rungs.

... that are connected to.....?

 

[iaov]

I own a pretty good collection of both. I usually grab wich ever is closest. No doubt one is safer on a fiber glass ladder. Your also safer if you just don't get out of bed in the morning. Also I suspect more electricians are hurt falling off ladders than being shocked standing on them.

 

[220/221]

Let me clarify.

I am NOT trying to argue that fiberglass ladders are not safer than aluminum as far as electrical hazard. They clearly are.

that are connected to

Your forearms?


All I am saying is that I understand reasoning behind the 24' AL extension ladder and have enough confidence in my guy to allow him to use it. The fiberglass one I bought him is sitting in the shop.

Also I suspect more electricians are hurt falling off ladders than being shocked standing on them.

Or carrying them.

Highly unlikely electrocution vs probable herniated disk.

Maybe I should have him sign a waiver

 

[ramsy]

Wood or fiberglass ladders maux nix without rubber gloves, if electricity goes thru one hand and out the other, right thru the heart.

 

[brian john]

, right thru the heart.

Thankfully I am heartless.

I look at everything (I think) from a what if something happened situation. In this case I wonder what a lawyer would do to you should your guy do something and get shocked on an aluminum ladder.

 

[R Bob]

Marc:

I used a 20' and 40' wooden for years BY MYSELF, and it was a chore but with practice one could finesse them. Fully extended I could move the 40-footer extended fully around the house.

YOUR FATHER's GENERATION..I hope he is a young father.

When I started in the trade, I don't ever recall using anything but wooden ladders. Maybe fiberlass wasn't available or cost effective yet.

In any event, the fiberglass extension ladders I have today seem to be as heavy as the wooden ones I used years ago. I'm sure that's not the case, it just seems that way...must be age.

 

[brian john]

...must be age.

It is the age, I use to hurdle the front fence, now I use the gate.

 

[220/221]

In this case I wonder what a lawyer would do to you should your guy do something and get shocked on an aluminum ladder.

I understand the possibility and choose to accept the risk.


I am getting more and more cautious of liability as I age but I doubt that I will ever give in 100%.