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Ladder accessories

Updated: 02 Dec 2009

Introduction

We assessed a range of accessories designed to improve a ladder’s usefulness or to make ladder tasks easier and safer.

We looked at stability platforms, stabiliser legs, "self-levelling" ladders, working platforms and more. Some were good. Some were OK. One was downright dangerous – and we think it should be withdrawn from sale.

Plus we include 8 tips for keeping safe while using a ladder.

Stability systems

Ladder stability platform

The Ladder Max stability platform is a plastic platform that clamps on to a rung near the top of the ladder: its two splayed-out “hands” rest against the wall and provide wider contact points than the ladder’s stiles. As well as improving stability, the platform doubles as a tray that can hold up to 10kg of equipment – which means you don’t have to be constantly up and down retrieving items.

Ladder Max

Price: $20
Good points: Felt stable. Gripped the wall well.
But: Only suitable for narrower ladders (it fitted our 398mm- but not our 437mm-wide ladder). Difficult to see from the ground whether the platform is level. Its “hands” marked the wall. Sideways reach from the ladder is limited, because of the distance the ladder stands out from the wall. Plastic construction could suffer UV damage: platform needs to be stored inside.
Our assessment: Good.

Ladder stabiliser legs

These are adjustable legs attached at an angle to the stiles of the ladder. They’re intended for some Gorilla ladders (which come with pre-drilled attachment holes).

The stabiliser legs are telescopic, with a spring-loaded catch and holes at 50mm intervals that allow about 200mm of total adjustment. Final adjustment is by screw-adjustable feet.

Gorilla Stabiliser Twin Pack AS-300

Price: $80
Good points: Provided a significant improvement in ladder stability. Velcro tabs kept legs held against ladder side when retracted.
But: On uneven or sloping ground the “higher” leg couldn’t be retracted far enough. And when the ladder was moved, both retracted legs slid out to first stop – extending beyond the bottom of the ladder.
Our assessment: Good.

"Self-levelling" ladders

We assessed two extension ladders that came with sliding adjustable feet. These feet were connected to the base of the ladder’s stiles and a cable system adjusted the height of the feet to compensate for uneven ground.

A self-levelling ladder can be positioned almost anywhere – provided it’s placed at the correct angle and the rungs are level. For working on uneven or sloping ground, it’s safer than a conventional extension ladder.

Bailey Galaxy 10 Leveller

Price: $510
Good points: Ladder extendable from 3.2m to 5.0m. Maximum load 120kg. Maximum leg-extension difference (one leg longer than the other) 210mm. Levelling instructions at eye level (easy to see when ladder in use). Instructions and diagrams clear. Levelling system worked well.
But: Retracting the ladder was a little awkward: the rope system was on the right stile and so both hands were to the right of the ladder (the left side was unsupported).
Our assessment: Good.

Alco ALL22

Price: $894
Good points: Ladder extendable from 4.0m to 6.7m. Maximum load 150kg. Maximum leg-extension difference (one leg longer than the other) 248mm. Longer, wider and more heavily constructed than the Bailey. Swivelling corrugated rubber feet adjust to ground contour and can be swivelled 90 degrees to dig into soft ground. Levelling system worked well.
But: More difficult to handle and move about than the Bailey. Levelling instructions close to ground level (difficult to see when ladder is in use).
Our assessment: Good.

Working platforms

All these platforms attach to a ladder the same way: one end of the platform has hooks to go over a ladder rung, with pivoting stays on the other side that reach down to the rung below. The platforms stand out from the ladder, providing a larger flat surface for standing on.

We have some concerns about these platforms. If you stand too far “out” on the platform, your weight would tend to pull the ladder away from the wall. And if you’re on a platform and reach out to one side, the platform will be pushed to the opposite side – which will twist the ladder.

We tried to assess a Warthog Ladder Platform WHLP ($73) but this platform wouldn't fit either of our test ladders (or seven others we tried). We were also concerned about a "short" weld on the Warthog we had - so we did no further assessment.

Little Giant Work Platform 10104

Price: $111
Comment: Maximum load 133kg. Once the platform is attached, it can be slid in towards the wall – so you can climb past the platform and then use your foot to slide it back out into position. Raised tread gripped our shoes well. But (on our test ladders) the platform sloped slightly downwards.
Our assessment: OK.

Gorilla Multi-purpose Platform & Tray Plat - 01

Price: $75
Comment: Maximum load 120kg. Raised tread gripped our shoes well. Can be turned upside down to provide a work tray – but this has two disadvantages: the “tabs” on the tray mean you can’t slide the platform/tray in and out (which makes it difficult to climb up the ladder); and once you’re in position you have to reach around the tray to access the wall. Heavier than the others.
Our assessment: OK.

Bumpers & roof brackets

Ladder bumpers

These are made from flexible plastic and they fit over the top end of each ladder stile. They’re intended to prevent the top ends from damaging your wall.

Crawford Ladder Bumpers

Price: $32
Comment: Bumpers can be pushed (rather than hammered) on to the ladder stiles. But they didn’t improve ladder-to-wall grip. They also allowed about 10mm of sideways flexing – disconcerting when you’re on the ladder.
Our assessment: OK.

Gorilla Extension Ladder Bumpers

Price: $40
Comment: No sideways flexing when we were on the ladder. But these bumpers didn’t improve ladder-to-wall grip; and the ladder moved when we jiggled about on it. Bumpers had to be hammered on to the stiles with a piece of wood.
Our assessment: OK.

Roof brackets

This bracket was made from flat bent-to-shape steel. You attach it to the top rungs of a ladder and hook the other end over a horizontal object suitable for holding the ladder in place. It looks as if it’s intended for hooking over a piece of 100x50mm timber – for instance during roof construction.

Profab Roof Bracket RB

Price: $92
Comment: No instructions or safety information. Not ideal for hooking over roof capping as it could damage it.
Our assessment: OK.

Dangerous ladder bracket

In combination with the Profab Guard Rail Post GRP, the Profab Scaffold Ladder Bracket SLB allows a working platform to be assembled alongside a wall. No instructions, safety information or safe working-load information were supplied with the products. They should be used in accordance with OSH safe erection and use of scaffolding guidelines 6.5.2, but we still don’t like them.

In our view, the Profab Scaffold Ladder Bracket SLB is the most dangerous contraption we’ve encountered in years. We think it should be removed from sale.

This is how it works: you lean two ladders against the wall, then clip a bracket to each ladder and drop a guard rail post into each bracket. You then lay your own planks horizontally between the brackets and thread a backboard through loops in the supports.

We have 9 safety concerns about this set-up:

The ladder rungs need to be at the same height for the planks to be level. That can be almost impossible to do if the ladders aren’t the same or if the ground isn’t level.
There’s no method for securing the brackets to the ladder, or planks to the brackets, so an accident is possible if a plank becomes dislodged. And if someone stands on a plank that extends beyond the end of one bracket the opposite end could lift off and cause a major accident.
The brackets can be installed overslung (outside the ladder) or underslung (between the ladder and the wall), but no instructions are supplied for this. The backboard support can only be installed if the brackets are installed outwards.
Climbing on to the planks – where you have to climb up and then sideways over the end of a bracket – is difficult and potentially dangerous.
There’s no diagonal bracing. Walking along the planks puts a sideways force on the assembly, which tends to twist the ladders away from the wall.
It’s possible to exceed the “safe load” rating for the ladders – particularly if two people moved toward one end of the planks.
There’s potential for both ladders to be pulled off the wall if the brackets are installed out from the ladders and not high enough or if someone falls back against the backboard.
Because of the ladder angle, the distance to the wall varies with the height of the brackets. At low heights you have to lean in to reach the wall, which results in your feet pushing outwards on the planks.
For the outside of the brackets to be positioned within the ladder feet, the brackets need to be installed at least 2.6m above ground level. For the backboard to be positioned within the ladder feet, the brackets need to be installed at least 3.4m above ground level.

These products aren’t cheap, either: the two brackets and two guard-rail posts you’d need for a platform would set you back $417.

Our assessment: Bad.

Safety tips

8 tips for keeping safe while using a ladder:

Never use a ladder with broken or missing parts.
Make sure your ladder is tall enough for the task you want to do and is strong enough for the job.
Place the ladder on firm and level ground. (Unless you have a “self-levelling” ladder.)
Set up the ladder at the correct angle – one measure out for every four measures up. Most ladders have a guide to the correct angle. Stepladders should be fully opened and both stay bars locked in place.
Secure the ladder’s feet so they can’t slip (it’s a good idea to use sand bags or get someone to hold the ladder).
Wear sensible footwear. Your shoes or boots should have low heels and the soles must be non-slip.
Don’t climb any higher than three steps below the top of the ladder.
Don’t over-reach. Keep your belt buckle inside the stiles or climb down and move the ladder.

More information

ACC: www.homesafety.co.nz

Report by Bill Whitley.