Ladder Question.....

Status
Not open for further replies.

Fulthrotl

~Autocorrect is My Worst Enema.~
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.

OSHA forbids it. most electrician's union working agreements forbid it.
my gramma, bless her heart, forbade it, i think, but only when she was alive.
the guys at the wholesale house forbid it. most of you guys aren't too big
on it either.......

so, because i run with scissors, i have one i use. i would never allow an
employee to use it, 'cause cal-OSHA and my dear departed gramma would
have a fit, but if it's my choice, my tush, and my ladder......:D

i've had my current one since june, 1992. i've never had an electrical
safety issue with it. it has very durable feet on the bottom that are non
conductive. how non conductive? about 2 hours ago, i went out, took a
piece of #12 mild steel sheeting, and laid it on the garage floor. then, i
opened the ladder, and put it on the sheeting.

then i meggered between the aluminum ladder frame, and the steel sheet.

at 1000 volts, the resistance was > 2.2 Gigaohms, the limit of my fluke
megger. this on a 17 year old ladder that has seen a lot of service. those
feet haven't worn out yet.....

most stuff i have heard about involving electricity and aluminum ladders
involves extension ladders, and service entrances... someone is carrying
one upright around a house, and walks it into a service entrance drop,
or in one case with a former line patrol mechanic for DWP, he was trimming
a tree in his back yard, and dropped an aluminum ladder across a 5kv leg
while holding it. how he reached a 5kv lead on a pole can with an extension
ladder was not made clear.

now, let us say that i have a huge deep gooey mudhole in the backyard,
and i bury this aluminum ladder a foot deep in the mud climbing up onto the
roof.... at that point, it isn't a ladder anymore, it is a ground rod.

and touching a ground rod while doing hot work sounds like a poor career
path.....:D
 

EBFD6

Senior Member
Location
MA
OSHA forbids it. most electrician's union working agreements forbid it.
my gramma, bless her heart, forbade it, i think, but only when she was alive.
the guys at the wholesale house forbid it. most of you guys aren't too big
on it either.......

so, because i run with scissors, i have one i use. i would never allow an
employee to use it, 'cause cal-OSHA and my dear departed gramma would
have a fit, but if it's my choice, my tush, and my ladder......:D

i've had my current one since june, 1992. i've never had an electrical
safety issue with it. it has very durable feet on the bottom that are non
conductive. how non conductive? about 2 hours ago, i went out, took a
piece of #12 mild steel sheeting, and laid it on the garage floor. then, i
opened the ladder, and put it on the sheeting.

then i meggered between the aluminum ladder frame, and the steel sheet.

at 1000 volts, the resistance was > 2.2 Gigaohms, the limit of my fluke
megger. this on a 17 year old ladder that has seen a lot of service. those
feet haven't worn out yet.....

most stuff i have heard about involving electricity and aluminum ladders
involves extension ladders, and service entrances... someone is carrying
one upright around a house, and walks it into a service entrance drop,
or in one case with a former line patrol mechanic for DWP, he was trimming
a tree in his back yard, and dropped an aluminum ladder across a 5kv leg
while holding it. how he reached a 5kv lead on a pole can with an extension
ladder was not made clear.

now, let us say that i have a huge deep gooey mudhole in the backyard,
and i bury this aluminum ladder a foot deep in the mud climbing up onto the
roof.... at that point, it isn't a ladder anymore, it is a ground rod.

and touching a ground rod while doing hot work sounds like a poor career
path.....:D

Pretty much been my point during this discussion!:)
 

satcom

Senior Member
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.


Bingo, it is never the live work that does them in, it is usually the contact by accident, that one, air conditioner housing that has a fault and the ladder makes contact, the ceiling grid thay has a live connection in contact with it, there are many hazzards out there from sloppy work that are waiting to strike.
 

electricmanscott

Senior Member
Location
Boston, MA
Unfortunately, LG does not make the Skyscrapers in fiberglass.

product_image.php


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.

Holy Moses how tall is that ladder?
 

LarryFine

Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
Location
Henrico County, VA
Occupation
Electrical Contractor
We have a 22' fiberglass LG, and it was way less than $500. There was a sales event at Costco last year, and I believe the total was right around $400. It usually stays on the roof of my personal van, and is handy for more-involved estimating work.

We have only fiberglass ladders on our work van; a 4' and a 6' step inside, and a 10' step and a 28' extension on the roof. Maybe aluminum "outta" be safe, the cost difference isn't worth it to me. Fiberglass has the benefits of wood and the benefits of aluminum.


Unfortunately, LG does not make the Skyscrapers in fiberglass.

product_image.php


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.
I've rented that puppy a couple of times, but don't want to own one. I include the rental and travel time in the pricing. It's great for two-story ceiling fans and large-foyer chandeliers. We hung one that required two guys to lift. Whew!
 

ohm

Senior Member
Location
Birmingham, AL
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 received a shock once working off a 10 ft wooden ladder touching a live wire with my kliens. I couldn't believe it so I did it again. Any guesses how it happened?
 

macmikeman

Senior Member
Bingo, it is never the live work that does them in, it is usually the contact by accident, that one, air conditioner housing that has a fault and the ladder makes contact, the ceiling grid thay has a live connection in contact with it, there are many hazzards out there from sloppy work that are waiting to strike.

Thats why I don't even leave the house without my PPE suit on.
apollo-intro-suit.jpg
 

Flex

Senior Member
Location
poestenkill ny
Thos little giant ladders are nice in a room with an 8' drop celing that you need to get to the 20' trusses. Or if you need the ladder height in an electric room in an office building with no means to get a tall ladder in the bulding.
 

480sparky

Senior Member
Location
Iowegia
I've rented that puppy a couple of times, but don't want to own one. I include the rental and travel time in the pricing. It's great for two-story ceiling fans and large-foyer chandeliers. We hung one that required two guys to lift. Whew!

I own one of the 21-footers. Not needed every day, but sure is nice on those really really tall cathedral ceilings I always seem to run into. Paid a little over $800 for it. I charge for it's use, and it got paid for within a year of purchase. So it's a money-maker now.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top