How does a ladder cage make a ladder safer?
Question:The cages that surround very tall ladders, how exactly do they make the ladder safer? If you were to fall wouldn't you still just bounce down the cage, doesn't seem much better then having it open.
Answers:
A ladder cage is provided to prevent someone falling straight back off a vertical ladder. If you were to lose your step and start to fall you could still recover and grab the rungs. It would tend to keep you vertical and in such a position you could recover versus falling straight back with no chance of grabbing the rungs or side rails. When you use such a ladder you should always be aware of what you are doing and have a good strong hand grip each step you take. I have had occasion to use this type of ladder during my job in an oil refinery where there are many tall columns to climb each day and each has a ladder cage. Good question.
good point, but maybe it makes it so you dont fall as far away from the ladder and your still in reach of the ladder so you have a better chance of catching yourself.not sure
they allow you to take a break while climbing very tall ladders, by leaning back and giving your arms a rest. also, I think they tend to give the climber a sense of security, but I agree with you, cause if you fall, you still fall and bounce around on the inside of the cage. Although, I guess if you fell, you'd have a better chance in the first split second to grab onto something and catch yourself.
In most cases if you fall from a ladder it's because you missed a rung, usually w/ your hand. If so you would tend to fall backwards first, so the cage provides something to fall against hopefully arresting your fall. It's not perfect, but better than nothing.
Somewhere years ago someone fell off a ladder. So OSHA or someone came in and said there needs to be a cage around the ladder so next time when someone falls they get caught up in the cage and then rescue can come in and get them out, instead of them scraping them off the ground. I know that for the first few feet there doesn't need to be a cage because the fall won't hurt as bad. I know that it is hard to carry tools and supplies up and down when there are cages. I think a tie off method would work better.
When you are climbing, you can take a rest and lean back on the cage until you are ready to start climbing again.
It keeps you from falling away from the ladder, you'd have to be pretty small to tumble down the inside of the cage, or pencil dive, keeping your arms and legs in. if you stick out your feet our arms you'll stop falling and catch yourself. if you're unconcious you'll get tangled up and stop falling almost as quickly as you fell. Without the cage you'd just fall away from the ladder and flap your wings wishing you could fly.
Hi J,
We don't have them here in Australia, but I think it's a thing where you lock the ladder inside and therefore nobody can use it, so that would make pretty much any ladder really safe.
Hope this helps,
Mantel
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