|
If
you
have
a
question
which
is
not
answered
on
this
site
please
ask
us.
We
are
here
to
sell,
but
we
are
also
here
to
help.
Our
many
years
of
experience
mean
we
can
often
give
sound
advice
or
suggest
where
you
might
find
it.
About
Ladders
Q.
How
do
I
choose
the
right
length
of
ladder?
Q.
Where
can
I
find
out
more
about
Health
&
Safety
regulations
for
ladder
use?
Q.
Should
I
choose
a
2-section
(Double)
or
a
3-section
(Triple)
ladder?
Q.
I'm
not
happy
up
a
ladder.
How
can
I
work
more
safely?
About
Stepladders
Q.
I've
got
tall
hedges
to
cut.
What
are
my
options
for
reaching
them?
Q.
What
is
the
difference
between
a
Platform
Step
and
a
Swingback
(Builders)
Step?
About
Scaffold
Towers
Q.
How
do
I
choose
the
right
height
of
scaffold
tower?
Q.
I
bought
a
steel
scaffold
tower
years
ago
from
somewhere-or-other.
Can
I
buy
extra
frames
from
Lansford
Access?
Q.
Where
can
I
find
out
more
about
Health
&
Safety
regulations
for
scaffold
tower
use?
Q.
Can
you arrange
tower
safety
training
courses
for
my
employees
?
About
Ladders
Q.
How
do
I
choose
the
right
length
of
ladder?
A.
Firstly,
be
cautious
about
just
counting
the
rungs
on
an
old
ladder
and
buying
another
with
the
same
number.
Many
ladders
have
had
the
distance
from
rung-to-rung
increased
in
the
last
few
years
so
that,
for
example
an
old
Double
17
rung
ladder
may
well
be
the
same
size
as
a
current
Double
15
rung
ladder.
If
you
need
a
new
ladder
the
same
length
as
your
old
one
it
is
always
better
to
measure
the
length
of
the
stiles
than
count
the
rungs.
Secondly,
most
people
grossly
over-estimate
heights.
Wherever
possible
measure
the
height
you
need
to
reach
with
a
tape
measure,
length
of
string
or
count
the
brick
courses
and
multiply
by
the
depth
of
one
course.
Thirdly,
be
aware
that
the
"Extended
Height"
of
a
ladder
is
measured
along
the
side
stiles
at
maximum
safe
extension.
When
the
ladder
is
positioned
at
the
correct
angle
against
the
wall
(see
Using
Ladders
Safely
on
our
Ladder
Safety
page)
some
of
this
"Extended
Height"
will
be
lost.
Do
not
over-compensate
for
this
though
-
a
ladder
with
an
Extended
Height
of
9.0m
/
30ft
will
only
lose
about
30cm
/
1ft
when
positioned
at
the
correct
working
angle.
Fourthly,
bear
in
mind
that
not
everyone
likes
to
use
a
ladder
at
full
extension.
Many
of
our
customers
have
said
that
they
always
like
to
have
4
or
5
rungs
overlapped.
If
you
agree,
make
an
allowance
for
this
in
your
choice.
^
Q.
Where
can
I
find
out
more
about
Health
&
Safety
regulations
for
ladder
use?
A.
There
are
many
publications
available
from
The
Stationery
Office.
The
following
list
is
not
exhaustive,
but
should
be
a
good
start
-
-
The
Construction
(Health,
Safety
&
Welfare)
Regulations
1996;
-
The
Health
&
Safety
at
Work
Act
1974;
-
Provision
&
Use
of
Work
Equipment
(PUWER)
1998.
Online
information
is
available
at
-
www.the-stationery-office.co.uk
www.hsebooks.co.uk
www.hsedirect.com
www.citb.co.uk
For
general
advice
and
information,
see
our
Ladder
Safety
page
on
this
site.
^
Q.
Should
I
choose
a
2-section
(Double)
or
a
3-section
(Triple)
ladder?
A.
In
our
opinion
the
only
disadvantages
of
a
Triple
ladder
are
(a)
extra
cost
and
(b)
having
two
places
where
the
rungs
disappear
(at
the
base
of
an
overlap)
when
descending
the
ladder,
rather
than
only
one
as
on
a
Double.
Apart
from
this
a
Triple
is
preferable.
1/
It
has
a
shorter
closed
length
-
easier
to
store
and
transport
plus
easier
to
carry
because
it
is
not
so
top-heavy
;
2/
It
can
be
separated
into
two
or
sometimes
three
sections
for
greater
versatility
and
lighter
carrying
;
3/
It
is
easier
to
extend
because
you
have
two
shorter
sections
to
push
up
instead
of
one
longer
one
(
although
a
Rope-Operated
Double
will
overcome
this
problem
)
;
4/
It
can
be
used
at
lower
heights
than
a
long
Double
because
of
its
shorter
closed
length.
All-in-all
it's
no
contest!
^
Q.
I'm
not
happy
up
a
ladder.
How
can
I
work
more
safely?
A.
There
are
many
ways
of
increasing
ladder
safety.
See
our
huge
range
of
Ladder
Accessories,
many
of
which
are
designed
to
do
just
this.
See
also
our
Ladder
Safety
page
which
is
full
of
good
advice.
Maybe
you
should
not
use
a
ladder
at
all?
Have
you
considered
one
of
our
Scaffold
Towers
instead?
For
longer
jobs
they
are
much
more
comfortable
and
considerably
safer.
^
About
Stepladders
Q.
I've
got
tall
hedges
to
cut.
What
are
my
options
for
reaching
them?
A.
The
most
obvious
is
a
stepladder.
However,
these
are
notoriously
dangerous
and
many
accidents
result
from
their
use
every
year.
Two
major
dangers
are
-
a)
using
flimsy
Domestic
Duty
steps
which
are
not
robust
enough
for
the
task
-
b)
using
steps
sideways-on
to
the
hedge
so
that
overreaching
causes
the
steps
the
topple
over
in
the
opposite
direction.
The
safest
form
of
steps
is
an
alloy
"Groundsman"
Tripod
Stepladder
(
click
here
for
our
Specialist
Ladders
page
).
This
has
a
single
back
leg
which
can
be
pushed
into
the
hedge
allowing
the
Tripod
to
be
used
face-on
rather
than
sideways-on.
Many
people
are
happy
with
a
Combination
Ladder
which
can
be
used
as
a
normal
straight
ladder
and
a
tall
pair
of
steps
(
click
here
for
Combination
Ladders
page
),
but
care
is
still
needed
with
these.
Probably
the
safest
option
is
a
small
scaffold
or
scaffold
tower.
These
do
not
have
to
be
expensive
and
give
a
very
large,
stable
base
area
(
perhaps
4'
x
4'
)
which
is
far
less
likely
to
topple
over.
Many
scaffolds
have
the
option
of
Adjustable
Height
Castors
or
Bases
for
levelling
on
sloping
or
uneven
ground.
Click
here
for
our
Scaffold
Towers.
^
Q.
What
is
the
difference
between
a
Platform
Step
and
a
Swingback
(Builders)
Step?
A.
Notoriously
difficult
to
explain
in
text,
but
easy
with
the
steps
in
front
of
you.
At
its
simplest
-
a
Platform
Step
has
a
platform
and
a
Swingback
(Builders)
Step
doesn't!
The
important
point
though,
is
that
e.g.
a
7
tread
Platform
Step
is
not
the
same
height
as
a
7
tread
Swingback
Step
and
cannot
be
used
to
reach
the
same
height.
The
number
of
treads
stated
with
a
Platform
Step
includes
the
platform
-
this
is
normally
the
highest
safe
standing
position
because
the
top
rail
extends
above
the
platform
and
gives
a
bracing
point
for
the
lower
legs.
The
highest
bracing
point
on
a
Swingback
Step
will
be
the
topmost
tread,
(tread
7
in
our
example)
so
users
should
always
stand
several
treads
lower.
Although
frequently
ignored,
to
comply
with
H&S
regulations
users
should
actually
never
stand
beyond
the
point
at
which
they
can
take
a
secure
hand-hold
of
the
steps.
^
About
Scaffold
Towers
Q.
How
do
I
choose
the
right
height
of
scaffold
tower?
A.
See
"Height
Required"
on
our
Tower
Tips
page.
^
Q.
I
bought
a
steel
scaffold
tower
years
ago
from
somewhere-or-other.
Can
I
buy
extra
frames
from
Lansford
Access?
A.
Almost
certainly,
"No".
Virtually
all
steel
towers
are
made
to
slightly
different
dimensions
and
simply
will
not
fit
together.
You
will
have
to
track
down
the
original
manufacturer.
This
is
a
particular
problem
with
very
cheap
towers
-
usually
they
are
made
by
fly-by-nights,
out
of
scrap
steel
which
is
bought
in
as
an
assortment
of
tube
dimensions
and
makers
have
difficulty
to
provide
identical,
compatible
tube
from
one
month
to
the
next.
Lansford
has
been
supplying
the
same
towers
for
many
years
and
our
customers
can
be
assured
that
additional
frames
will
be
available
well
into
the
future.
^
Q.
Where
can
I
find
out
more
about
Health
&
Safety
regulations
for
scaffold
tower
use?
A.
There
are
many
publications
available
from
The
Stationery
Office.
The
following
list
is
not
exhaustive,
but
should
be
a
good
start
-
-
The
Construction
(Health,
Safety
&
Welfare)
Regulations
1996;
-
The
Health
&
Safety
at
Work
Act
1974;
-
Provision
&
Use
of
Work
Equipment
(PUWER)
1998.
Online
information
is
available
at
-
www.the-stationery-office.co.uk
www.hsebooks.co.uk
www.hsedirect.com
www.citb.co.uk
Also
see
-
British
Standard
BS1139:
Part
3:
1994
(
also
known
as
HD1004
;
GS
DIN4422-1
etc
)
^
Q.
Can
you arrange
tower
safety
training
courses
for
my
employees
?
A.
Yes.
Please
ring
us
to
discuss
your
requirements.
05/09/07
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