A wall ladder is probably one of the most common tools in any household, but it is strange to think that they are also one of the most dangerous tools one can use if it has no safety fixtures in it. These rather flimsy pieces of metal or wood can easily be blown over or pushed off balance by the slightest touch which is why we need some kind of protection system to make sure that the ladder stays safe and does not topple over every so often!
Those who have never had a nasty fall off a ladder (In Finnish Word: tikkaat) might wonder what all the commotion is about, and so a gentle reminder of the almost legendary instability of a wall ladder is in order. Falling off a ladder is a pretty scary experience; it is almost as good as jumping over a small cliff. After, literally, millennia of looking for ways to make wall ladders safer, the modern world has come up with probably one of the most sensible safety systems around – the H-50 fall-arrest system. The beauty of this system is that it is pretty simple yet extremely effective. Although it cannot be used for very short ladders, this system is nothing short of a life saver when you use a wall ladder (In Finnish Word: seinätikkaat) of considerable height. The H-50 fall arrest system works by using strong harnesses. A harness is placed on the climber and attached to a special metal pole is fitted to the ladder at the middle and can be removed and fitted on other ladders as well. The harness is constructed so that if anyone slips while attached to it, the hook will lock itself to the metal pole and thereby ensure that the climber is absolutely safe.
The one thing to remember when using the H-50 fall-arrest system is that is depends heavily on the material of the ladder. A wall ladder made of aluminium, galvanized steel or stainless steel is probably the best fit for one of these. Although rust and corrosion may be a problem after a few years, this is your best bet for a good, strong support system for wall ladders.
