Ladder Question.....

[Fulthrotl]

anybody here have any experience with the new Little Giant Ladders?

it's the one they call the revolution, or something like that. the claim
is that it's 20% lighter than any other multipurpose ladder... by that i think
they mean the original Little Giant ladders, which are boat anchors :-(

anybody using one yet, and your thoughts on it?

i'm suffering inner van congestion, and am looking at one of these in the
17 foot size. however, the price on these is pretty steep, so i was looking
for some feedback....


randy

 

[wdemos]

Aluminum Ladders

Aluminum Ladders

Aluminum ladders and electrical work go together like ?..... Well you get the idea.

 

[iwire]

1926.951(c)(1)

Portable metal or conductive ladders shall not be used near energized lines or equipment except as may be necessary in specialized work such as in high voltage substations where nonconductive ladders might present a greater hazard than conductive ladders. Conductive or metal ladders shall be prominently marked as conductive and all necessary precautions shall be taken when used in specialized work.

 

[active1]

This is what your looking for, the fiberglass version:

http://www.littlegiantladder.com/little-giant/type-1a-fiberglass.html

The 5'-9' step ladder (11'-19' extension) weighs 56 pounds and costs more than $500.

They also have a 3 leg fiberglass one:

http://www.littlegiantladder.com/little-giant/ultra-step-fiberglass.html

They might be nice for stairs. To me they look heavy. Sometimes it is good to have more than 1 ladder just so you don't have to drag it around the job.

Did you read the trailer thread yet?

 

[Vinniem]

They do make in in fiberglass but like you said they are expensive.

 

[mlp425]

They also come in fiberglass.

http://www.littlegiantladder.com/little-giant/ultra-step-fiberglass.html

 

[Vinniem]

great minds think alike mlp425

 

[mlp425]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

great minds think alike mlp425

:grin:

 

[Vinniem]

this is getting scary

 

[Mule]

I was just at the blu store yesterday purchasing another 10ft FiberG ladder, and looked at those.....I think they would be handy to have around for quick light weight access. Not for working voltages mind you, but they are lightweight and compact. I carry 300# fiberglass step ladders 10ft 8ft and a 16ft extension on top of my van and a 6ft step inside.....

 

[satcom]

this is getting scary

Your from New Jersey, Metal ladders should be scary, we had a number of EC's do their last job on an alum ladder, the one I really remember, was A Jamesburg New Jersey contractor, was working on a sign at an area lobster house, using the ladder to check an outdoor sign, his newborn baby was only home a few weeks, so he never had a chance to watch him grow, All the other accdents are posted on the state labor site, we tend to ignore the past errors and learn nothing from them.

 

[infinity]

We still use wood step ladders. They're more rigid than fiberglass and obviously insulated better than aluminum.

 

[charlietuna]

I have one -- it is very heavy --but for working in stairwells on none energized jobs it was well worth the investment and much safer than "RIGGING" ladders and planks...

 

[EBFD6]

I don't get it. What's so dangerous about working off an aluminum ladder?

We aren't supposed to be working on live circuits any way, right?

Where's the issue?

IMO, the Little Giant Ladders are very sturdy and extremely convenient. If you do a lot of hot work then you probably want the fiberglass version, but if you work everything de-energized I don't see a problem with the aluminum.

 

[iwire]

I don't get it. What's so dangerous about working off an aluminum ladder?

It's conductive.

We aren't supposed to be working on live circuits any way, right?

Right.

Where's the issue?

I would say the issue is here.

OSHA 1926.951(c)(1)

Portable metal or conductive ladders shall not be used near energized lines or equipment except as may be necessary in specialized work such as in high voltage substations where nonconductive ladders might present a greater hazard than conductive ladders. Conductive or metal ladders shall be prominently marked as conductive and all necessary precautions shall be taken when used in specialized work.

IMO, the Little Giant Ladders are very sturdy and extremely convenient.

I agree, so spring for the fiberglass one and be safer. :smile:

 

[zappy]

1926.951(c)(1)

Portable metal or conductive ladders shall not be used near energized lines or equipment except as may be necessary in specialized work such as in high voltage substations where nonconductive ladders might present a greater hazard than conductive ladders. Conductive or metal ladders shall be prominently marked as conductive and all necessary precautions shall be taken when used in specialized work.

Just curious why a conductive ladder would be safer then a non-conductive ladder in high volt.substations?

 

[EBFD6]

OSHA 1926.951(c)(1)

Portable metal or conductive ladders shall not be used near energized lines or equipment except as may be necessary in specialized work such as in high voltage substations where nonconductive ladders might present a greater hazard than conductive ladders. Conductive or metal ladders shall be prominently marked as conductive and all necessary precautions shall be taken when used in specialized work.

I agree, and I also still maintain my belief that an aluminum ladder is perfectly safe and appropriate for 99% of the work that we do - on non-energized wires and equipment. If you are changing a service and tying in the weather head live, an aluminum extension ladder is probably not your best choice. However, if you're installing a light fixture (de-energized) over a staircase, there is nothing wrong with an aluminum Little Giant. The biggest issue I have with most aluminum ladders is their cheap construction, this is not IMO an issue with the little giant.

 

[Vinniem]

Quote "We aren't supposed to be working on live circuits any way, right?"

Not all of us do what were are supposed to do all the time.

Many ( myshelf included) have at times taken shortcuts.

Even if you do everything by the book, this is an imperfect world and things happen.

If your not on a metal ladder, it helps.

 

[480sparky]

Unfortunately, LG does not make the Skyscrapers in fiberglass.

I have both a Skyscraper and an aluminum model 17 and use both on the job. The Skyscraper gets used in cathedral and other tall ceilings, and I use the 17 for roughing in.

 

[macmikeman]

I take a lot of guff in the wholesale counters for the aluminum extension ladder up on my truck rack. I have all sorts of fiberglass ones in my shop. They weigh alot. I use that alum ladder to get up to the roof for air conditioning service work, not for live work. But try tell that to the industrial crowd.