LADDER INSPECTIONS
If your business has a fleet of ladders, they need to periodically be inspected for repair and/or replacement. Alabama Ladder Co., Inc conducts ladder inspections free of charge at your location. We kindly request that if new ladders are needed after the inspection, you acquire them from us.
Who can inspect a ladder?
An individual trained in ladder safety needs to inspect ladders. This person must have the necessary technical expertise, training and experience in ladder work.
How Often Do Ladders Need to be Inspected?
Owning ladders and using them safely is essential as a business owner and part of that is having them inspected every three to six months. Individuals using a ladder should check the ladder before every use. If you have any doubts regarding its safety don’t use it and call a competent person to inspect. Ladder defects can go unnoticed and unfixed because people don’ t know what they are looking for or consider the problem not serious enough for a replacement. Ladder users should check the stiles, the feet, the rungs, the locking bars, and the platform before every use .
Employers may be held liable if a worker is injured while using a damaged ladder, especially if the employee has not been trained in the pre-check ladder inspections. If you discover any defects on your ladder you should not attempt to use it. Put your safety first and buy a new ladder from Alabama Ladder.
What are defects you look for when inspecting ladders?
When our team inspects ladders we do not wash or clean the ladders, we are purely looking for repairs or replacements needed. Fiberglass, in our professional opinion, cannot be repaired. Fiberglass will have structural cracks and any repairs recommended to you would just be temporary band-aids and not long term solutions.
Specific elements that need to be inspected include:
- Steps (loose, cracked, bent, or missing)
- Rails – front and back (cracked bent, split, or uneven)
- Top (loose, cracked, bent, or missing)
- Spreader Brace (loose, bent, will not lock, or corroded)
- Shoes (rubber pad worn, loose, or missing)
- Pail Shelf (bent, loose, missing, or broken)
- Hardware (loose, missing, corroded, altered)
- Rope & Pulley (missing, frayed, not working)
- Platform (loose, cracked, bent, or missing)
- General Condition (presence of rust, corrosion, dirt, or other)
- Labels (missing or illegible)
Ladder Recommendations
After our expert’s ladder inspection, we will recommend next steps on any repairs or replacements you may need. Alabama Ladder Co., Inc. prides ourselves on keeping the top ladder products in stock and ready for our customers.