Fiberglass ladder seem to be an issue and need more attention to inspections prior to use. This company found a total of 4 ladders that were not acceptable and had to be taken out of service.
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SAFETY U This correspondence and information provided is the property of and for the exclusive use and benefit of Companion Property & Casualty Insurance Company (“Companion”) and shall not be used by any other person for any other purpose. Companion does not intend to (and has not attempted to) identify all possible loss exposures for the location assessed, and Companion does not indicate or warrant that said locations are safe or hazard-free. Companion’s conclusions are based upon observations and information available at the time of Companion’s assessment. Companion does not claim to have reviewed or discovered all existing or potential hazards that may be associated with said location(s) or that any business operations are in compliance with any law, rule or regulation, or that they are covered under any insurance policy. Companion’s reports and correspondence are not to be used to promote, market or recommend to any party said location or any transaction associated with the subject of this correspondence. In exchange for Companion providing this correspondence and information to you, you agree (1) to withhold this correspondence from third parties unless you are required otherwise by law and (2) that neither Companion nor the person who assessed the risks shall be liable to any party for any information provided or statements made during the risk assessment or herein. Companion disclaims any implied warranties. Further, Companion assumes no responsibility for the correction or control of hazards (identified or not) and does not warrant that the implementation of any of its recommendations will result in compliance with any standards, codes, agreements, ordinances, regulations, statutes or laws or the elimination of any unsafe conditions. Construction Safety Fiberglass Ladder – Delamination on Side Rails Issue: A fiberglass Man-Hole style ladder designed for a safe working load of 300 pounds was being used to Enter/Exit an excavation. The side rails of the ladder delaminated causing the ladder to fail. The ladder was 2 years old. What Happened When the worker placed his weight on the ladder the side rails failed causing the worker to fall approximately six feet into the excavation. The worker sustained minor injuries.
Transcript
SAFETY U
This correspondence and information provided is the property of and for the exclusive use and benefit of Companion Property & Casualty Insurance Company (“Companion”) and shall not be used by any other person for any other purpose. Companion does not intend to (and has not attempted to) identify all possible loss exposures for the location assessed, and Companion does not indicate or warrant that said locations are safe or hazard-free. Companion’s conclusions are based upon observations and information available at the time of Companion’s assessment. Companion does not claim to have reviewed or discovered all existing or potential hazards that may be associated with said location(s) or that any business operations are in compliance with any law, rule or regulation, or that they are covered under any insurance policy. Companion’s reports and correspondence are not to be used to promote, market or recommend to any party said location or any transaction associated with the subject of this correspondence. In exchange for Companion providing this correspondence and information to you, you agree (1) to withhold this correspondence from third parties unless you are required otherwise by law and (2) that neither Companion nor the person who assessed the risks shall be liable to any party for any information provided or statements made during the risk assessment or herein. Companion disclaims any implied warranties. Further, Companion assumes no responsibility for the correction or control of hazards (identified or not) and does not warrant that the implementation of any of its recommendations will result in compliance with any standards, codes, agreements, ordinances, regulations, statutes or laws or the elimination of any unsafe conditions.
Construction Safety
Fiberglass Ladder – Delamination on Side Rails
Issue: A fiberglass Man-Hole style ladder designed for a safe working load of 300
pounds was being used to Enter/Exit an excavation. The side rails of the ladder delaminated causing the ladder to fail. The ladder was 2 years old.
What Happened When the worker placed his weight on the ladder the side rails failed causing the worker to fall approximately six feet into the excavation. The worker sustained minor injuries.
A general inspection prior to use did not reveal separation in the side rails of the ladder.
Closer inspection of the side rails revealed cracks and delamination of the side rail. When the worker placed his weight on the ladder to side rail separated and could not support the weight. The ladder bowed causing the worker to fall into an excavation.
Corrective Action All fiberglass ladders are inspected on the inside portion of the side rails and placed on an angle and pressure is applied to the side rails to determine if any cracks or delamination has occurred prior to the ladder being used.
Ladder Safety Checklist
To prevent falls from ladders, make sure you have the following controls in place:
Use only ladders that are in good condition and designed to handle the climbing job that needs to be done.
Train employees on proper ladder use. Make proper ladder use a performance requirement for the job. Require employees to complete a ladder inspection before each use.
Criteria for Ladder Purchase and Care Check OSHA standards for the type of ladder you are using. Use only Underwriter’s Laboratory approved ladders (will have the UL seal). Protect wood ladders with a clear sealer, such as varnish, shellac, linseed oil or
wood preservative because paint can hide defects.
Ladder Usage Be sure step ladders are fully open
and locked before climbing them. Place ladder on a flat, secure
surface. Place ladder on a hard surface as it
will sink into a soft surface. Place ladder on non-movable base.
Lean ladder against a secure surface, not boxes or barrels.
Do not place ladder in front of a door.
Position base of ladder one foot away for every four feet of height to where it rests (1:4
Delamination occurred on both side rails.
ratio). Ladder rails should extend at least
three feet above top landing. Check shoes to ensure they are free
of grease or mud. Mount the ladder from the center,
not from the side. Face ladder when ascending or
descending, and hold on with both hands.
Carry tools in pockets, in a bag attached to a belt, or raised and lowered by rope.
Don’t climb higher than the third rung from the top.
Work facing the ladder. Do not overreach, always keep your
torso between the ladder rails. When using ladder for high places,
securely lash or fasten the ladder to prevent slipping.
Avoid outdoor ladder use on windy days.
Avoid aluminum ladders if work must be done around electrical wires or
Support Information For more information on ladder design and safety, please see more information published by the American Ladder Institute at:
