16.05.2010

Ladder or lift ?

A reader in Chesterfield, England spotted a self propelled scissor lift being used in an unusual and potentially dangerous way last week. It was being used to access a flat roof area, but rather than use the scissor lift as a form of passenger hoist which would have been questionable practice…….

……It was used in combination with a ladder.
Please register to see all images

The scissor / ladder combination in use

Does it qualify as a Death Wish? Well it does not come close to most of our Death Wish series, but it is clearly ‘dodgy’. Is it though safer that using the ladder on its own? A ladder on its own would qualify as correct usage of access equipment that’s for sure.

Would it have been better to use the scissor lift on its own? As this would have involved climbing over the guardrails, it would not have qualified as correct or recommended usage.

As a combination the ladder is at the wrong angle, making the climbing of it dangerous, although with the feet resting against the scissors toe-boards it is not going to kick out. But that is not the main cause of ladder falls anyway.

Our vote/opinion is that the user would have been better off using the ladder on its own and properly set up. If you disagree please do let us know.