Caged Ladders
Caged ladders are often used outside of buildings with ladders attached to the exterior. OSHA has some guidelines for these ladders. Not all exterior ladders have to have cages. Caged ladders are used as a precaution for buildings that have ladders on the exterior. The height of the ladder and the height of the building are some of the factors used to determine if a cage is required. The cages are designed to protect the person climbing, but they are not always successful.
Risks of Caged Ladders
The ladder cages are supposed to protect the operator and keep him or her safe. The Cage keeps the operator from falling all the way to the ground, but there are other issues. The operator may slip, causing him or her to bounce back and forth inside the cage, leading to bruises and broken bones. In fact, some people actually cause the cage a cheese grater because of these injuries. Another risk of exterior ladders is that anyone can walk up and climb them, creating a huge liability for the building owner.
Better Solutions to "Cheese Grater Ladders"
Many businesses need a ladder on the outside of their buildings, so they need a safer alternative to the caged ladder described above. Little Giant designed a safer option, the LedgeLock Roof Mount. It can be secured to any roof and a Little Giant extension ladder with the Claw can easily and safely connect to the LedgeLock. When the job is done, you can take the ladder down and store it until the next job.
The "Cheese grater ladders" can truly be dangerous, so it's important to find a safer alternative.
