Ladders are frequently employed on jobsites, and work places, to gain access to scaffolds and other work platforms, allowing work at height to be safely performed.
During the construction and use of such scaffolds and work platforms, certain levels of the working platform may be required to be restricted for any number of reasons such as dangerous or incomplete scaffolds and restrictions due to lower level works. Without removing the ladders between the levels, it's difficult to manage and police staff and contractors and prevent access to the restricted levels of the working platform.
Also, when works are not being performed, ladders can present a serious risk to the business as they allow trespassers and other unauthorized persons to gain access to the work platforms and scaffolds – these unauthorized persons can potentially include children.
At height, unauthorized persons may cause themselves, or others, injury by accessing a dangerous or incomplete scaffold resulting in a scaffold collapse, a fall from height, the dropping of tools and materials onto passersby, or knocking debris and other items from the work platform.
Regulations demand that should they enter your site, trespassers, and other unauthorized persons, are to be protected from being exposed, and exposing others, to such hazards.
To meet this legal requirement several practices are currently employed which include:
The Ladder Shield system is designed to overcome these issues. The aluminum shield can be fitted by one person, features a padlock key with a common key or a combination lock depending on the level of access desired, and fits most ladders, with bespoke sizes and alternate materials available upon request. Additionally the system clearly displays hazard warning and prohibited signs.
Lift & Access is part of the Catalyst Communications Network publication family.
