Ladders and accessories for easy and safe working at height

Field engineers are sometimes required to perform tasks at height when working on utility poles for example. Thus, Telenco store offers a wide range of extension ladders, stepladders, combination ladders and ladder accessories for technicians to be able to reach the elements they have to work on easily and safely. According to the HSE (Health and Safety Executive), ladders can be used for work at height when an assessment of the risk for carrying out a task has shown that using equipment offering a higher level of fall protection is not justified because of the low risk and short duration of use.

Which ladders to choose and how to safely use them?

Some of our ladders are insulated and EN 50.528 compliant which make them safe to use in environments where electrical hazards exist: when working on power lines, lamps post and telegraph poles for example.

Extension ladders: these leaning ladders consisting in two or more sliding sections are designed to lean up against walls, corners, and poles, and adjust in length to allow for greater reach. You should never rest a ladder against weak upper surfaces such as glazing or plastic gutters and make sure the ladder angle is at 75° – the 1-in-4 rule (i.e. one unit out for every four units up).

Telescopic ladders: these extendible ladders are a variation of leaning ladders and are very practical as they enable field engineers to reach high height points and can be folded up and transported in a small vehicle. Before every use – in addition to the normal ladder checks – make sure they are operating correctly and that the mechanisms that lock each section are working properly.

Stepladders: In order to gain sufficient height, it is possible to use a stepladder. Very practical on flat and open surfaces, it is also very useful indoors, especially for reaching ceilings. Its ease of transport and installation and its small size compared to a ladder make it a very practical lightweight tool for short interventions. It can be moved easily from one point to another. Before climbing a stepladder, please always make sure all four feet are in contact with the ground and avoid to stand in the top three steps unless there is a suitable handhold.

Roof ladders: They are designed to allow safe movement and access on a sloped or pitched roof and feature a ridge hook to keep it in place.

Combination ladders: Also called multi-purpose ladders, the 4 in 1 combination ladders can be used as a step ladder, an extension ladder or a stairwell ladder. They are ideal to use where the floor height varies and usually have transport wheels so that they can be moved without difficulty to wherever technicians need them. If a combination ladder is more cumbersome than a stepladder, this is justified by the much more developed safety measures that enable field engineers to operate in a safe environment. Indeed, they offer very good stability. Please make sure that any locking mechanism is properly engaged before use.

Also, don't hesitate to look at ladder accessories: adding ant-slip safety device at the feet of the ladder, for example, will improve the stability of the ladder and therefore enable you to safely perform your task. Adding wheels makes it easier to set up and runners improve adhesion where the ladder is supported.